Marko Confirms Red Bull Meeting After Brazil GP Qualifying Blunder
Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko announced an urgent team meeting after a dismal qualifying session for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix saw Max Verstappen eliminated in Q1. Marko revealed the RB21 lost time across all sectors, and a new floor introduced in Mexico "has not brought the hoped-for success." The team is scrambling to understand where they went wrong and implement measures to salvage their performance, highlighting a rare moment of struggle for the dominant outfit.
Red Bull Racing chief advisor Helmut Marko confirmed the team will hold an urgent pre-race meeting to address their "situation" after a disastrous qualifying session for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Max Verstappen, who typically dominates qualifying, remarkably exited in Q1, marking a rare occurrence for the Dutchman.
Why it matters:
Red Bull's unexpected poor performance in qualifying, especially with Max Verstappen's Q1 exit, is a significant shockwave through the F1 paddock. It highlights potential underlying issues with car setup or recent upgrades, threatening to disrupt their season-long dominance and opening the door for rivals like Ferrari and Mercedes to capitalize.
The Details:
- Unexpected Slowdown: Marko stated to Sky Germany that things had "gone badly wrong," noting the car lost time "everywhere, in all sectors," and that "the damage has been done. It doesn't look good."
- Verstappen's Rare Exit: Max Verstappen's Q1 elimination was highly unusual, as he hasn't failed to reach Q2 in years. This starkly contrasts with his usual qualifying prowess.
- New Floor Underperforming: The team introduced a new floor for the RB21 in Mexico, which was also used in Interlagos, but it "has not brought the hoped-for success," according to Marko.
- Search for Solutions: Marko admitted the team expected to "find the right direction" but failed, emphasizing the need to "look at where we have taken a wrong turn."
- Urgent Meeting: A pre-race meeting is scheduled to discuss "measures" and determine "what we do with this situation."
Looking Ahead:
Red Bull's immediate focus will be on damage control for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, but the larger implications for the remainder of the season, and possibly even 2024, are significant. The team will be under pressure to quickly diagnose and rectify the issues, especially concerning the new floor, to avoid further unexpected setbacks and maintain their championship momentum. The upcoming meeting will be crucial in setting the course for their immediate response and future development.