Max Verstappen is facing a miserable weekend at the Australian Grand Prix following a difficult opening day for the Red Bull team. Helmut Marko has predicted that the Milton Keynes squad will be fighting Mercedes for the honour of the third-fastest team title. Verstappen was the fifth-fastest driver during FP1 while team-mate Liam Lawson finished the session down in 16th place.
Things got even worse for Red Bull in FP2 as Verstappen dropped to P7, while Lawson slipped one spot to P17. Even more concerning for Red Bull was that in FP2, both Racing Bulls drivers finished the session ahead of Verstappen. Yuki Tsunoda was fourth-fastest, while rookie Isack Hadjar was sixth.
Speaking to Dutch news outlet AD after FP2, Marko admitted: « The McLarens are faster. Ferrari is also fast, especially Charles Leclerc. And behind them it will be exciting between us and Mercedes. » The Red Bull advisor also concluded that the second row was the best his squad could hope for in qualifying.
Red Bull could at least have one saving grace. « I heard it’s going to rain.. and then, of course, the Max factor is back, » Marko continued. « We just have to take the fuel out and give our drivers more power. »
Marko’s comments are bad news for Verstappen, who is targeting a fifth consecutive Drivers’ Championship title this season – an achievement that would see him match Michael Schumacher’s record.
The Dutchman’s new team-mate also struggled on day one in Melbourne. « I feel comfortable, but I’m just too slow, » Lawson confessed. « We have a lot of work to do tonight. On the first day at a new circuit, you always expect some work, but probably not as much as now. We’ll work on it tonight and try to improve tomorrow. »
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