Helmut Marko offered a candid assessment of Red Bull’s initial performance in Bahrain, revealing a sense of relief that the team’s RB21, despite its visual similarities to its predecessor, had delivered on its promise of improved drivability.
After a turbulent 2024 season where balance issues with the RB20 derailed Max Verstappen’s early dominance, Red Bull arrived in Bahrain confident they had chased away the gremlins.
Verstappen finished Wednesday’s running third on the timesheets, but Marko’s insights revealed a focus on deeper improvements, fueling hope for a stronger campaign ahead.
“The long runs were really competitive, or the fastest,” he stated, a clear indicator of the car’s potential. “The car is more predictable and reacts to changes in a normal way.”
Addressing Past Woes and Delivering Predictability
The core objective for Red Bull’s technical team was to expand the car’s operating window and provide its drivers with a more consistent platform.
“So, all the problems we had last year, I think have improved or maybe have been solved,” Marko affirmed. The key, he explained, was predictability. “Now it has a greater operating range and is more predictable for the drivers.”
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Verstappen’s feedback echoed Marko’s sentiments.
“The feedback from Max is positive. The car feels better now and when you make changes the car reacts as expected,” Marko revealed.
The Dutchman himself offered a positive assessment.
“In terms of driving, everything felt good,” Verstappen said, adding, “Only good surprises, so that’s positive. We don’t know yet where we are in terms of pace, but everything is working well and the car is doing what I want.
“We have everything under control and that’s all we can hope for at the start of my test.”
While Verstappen acknowledged that his fast lap could have been improved, Marko emphasized the importance of the long runs.
“On his fast lap Max could have done better, but that doesn’t matter. The long runs were very good, impressive,” he declared.
Rival Observations: Mercedes and McLaren Shine, Ferrari Lags
Beyond Red Bull’s performance, Marko kept a keen eye on their rivals, but aware that the fluctuating conditions in Bahrain, particularly the wind, played a role in the day’s proceedings.
“I think in the beginning in the morning, the wind was more tricky, especially yesterday,” he noted.
“The wind was really tricky. But that’s testing. However, it is much colder, so maybe that is why Mercedes is so fast.”
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Mercedes and McLaren, in particular, impressed Marko with their consistency and pace.
“McLaren was very consistent and also very fast. As was Mercedes,” he observed.
However, one team fell short of Marko’s expectations.
“Ferrari was a little disappointing because we expected more from them,” he admitted.
But the Red Bull chief tempered his assessment with a reminder that it was only the first day of testing.
“However, there are still two more days, so we will see,” he concluded.
In essence, Marko’s initial assessment painted a picture of a Red Bull team that had successfully addressed its previous shortcomings, delivering a more predictable and driver-friendly RB21.
While the competition remained a factor, the Austrian advisor’s optimism was palpable, setting the stage for an intriguing pre-season testing period.
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