Helmut Marko was deeply dissatisfied with Red Bull’s performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix, calling the results “not acceptable.” Both Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda finished in disappointing positions—sixth and ninth, respectively. The team’s performance, once dominant, now places them fourth in the pecking order, a stark contrast to their top-tier status just a year ago.
Pit-Stop Problems and Slow Pace
The Bahrain race was plagued by pit-stop issues, where malfunctioning automated stop/go lights contributed to unnecessary delays. Marko estimates that these problems cost the team valuable positions during the race, but he also pointed out that the overall pace of the RB21 car was simply too slow.
Looking Ahead: Upgrades and European Season Goals
Despite the disappointing results, Marko remains hopeful for improvements in the coming races. The team is preparing for a series of upgrades that will debut at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. However, until those upgrades arrive, Marko emphasized the importance of better race weekend preparation and finding optimal setups with the current car.
Marko also set a goal for the European season, hoping Red Bull will be more competitive by that point, after addressing both performance and pit-stop issues.
