Max Verstappen Anticipates Continued Challenges for Red Bull in Saudi Arabia
Max Verstappen foresees limited improvements for Red Bull at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix following a disappointing sixth place finish in Bahrain. He criticized tire management issues, questioning the team’s competitiveness against rivals. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko expresses urgency for improvements to avoid losing Verstappen to other teams.
Max Verstappen is not optimistic about Red Bull’s chances for improvement at the upcoming Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Following a difficult Bahrain race, where he finished sixth and expressed dissatisfaction with his RB21’s tire performance, Verstappen feels that achieving a fifth consecutive World Championship is becoming increasingly challenging. He cautioned fans against expecting significant enhancements from him or the team in Jeddah.
Despite the expected lower tire degradation in Saudi Arabia, Verstappen indicated that the fundamental issues regarding tire management persist. He stated, “If you are bad with tyres, you are bad with management everywhere.” Though the Jeddah track layout may offer some minor advantages, he is convinced that Red Bull will still not match the performance of their rivals.
Verstappen’s frustrations have been mounting, particularly after the Bahrain race, where he was 34 seconds behind the winner Oscar Piastri. He recounted, “I couldn’t brake, I couldn’t steer, I had no traction. I had nothing.” His series of misfortunes included a problematic start and pit stop that led to being stuck in traffic, seeing him drop to as low as twentieth place.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has expressed concern that Verstappen may be tempted to leave the team if improvements are not made. With his contract extending to 2028, potential moves to teams like Aston Martin, Mercedes, or Ferrari are on the table. Marko emphasized the urgency for Red Bull to enhance their vehicle’s performance, stating, “Improvements have to come in the near future so that he has a car with which he can win again.”
In summary, Max Verstappen’s outlook for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is dim, as he sees no imminent improvements for Red Bull following a disappointing performance in Bahrain. His frustrations with tire management and overall car performance suggest significant challenges ahead. Furthermore, there are concerns within Red Bull about losing Verstappen to rival teams if improvements are not made swiftly.
Original Source: www.express.co.uk
