Marko Identifies Soft Tire as Verstappen's Qatar Sprint Qualifying Issue
Helmut Marko has pinpointed the soft tire as the primary cause of Max Verstappen's struggles during Sprint Qualifying in Qatar, where he finished sixth. The Red Bull RB21 showed competitiveness on medium and hard compounds, but changes made to address the soft tire issues proved ineffective for Verstappen. While the team remains hopeful for better performance in the main race, resolving this recurring problem is crucial for Red Bull to maintain its dominance against increasingly competitive rivals.
Max Verstappen finished sixth in Sprint Qualifying in Qatar, a performance that left both him and Red Bull's Helmut Marko scratching their heads. While competitive on medium and hard tires, the RB21 struggled significantly on soft tires, a recurring problem that hampered Verstappen's efforts.
Why it matters:
Red Bull Racing's dominance has been largely unchallenged, but a recurring issue with soft tire performance could be a critical vulnerability as competitors like Mercedes and Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin close the gap. Solving this problem is crucial for Verstappen to maintain his competitive edge and for Red Bull to assert their usual authority, especially in tightly contested weekends.
The Details:
- Soft Tire Struggles: Helmut Marko explicitly stated that the soft tire was the core of Verstappen's problem during Sprint Qualifying. The car was competitive on medium and hard compounds, similar to how it performed in earlier practice sessions.
- Unresolved Changes: "The changes we made clearly didn't solve the problem," Marko told GPblog, indicating Red Bull's efforts to address the issue proved ineffective for Verstappen's car.
- Setup Differences: Interestingly, changes made to Yuki Tsunoda's car, which aimed for more rear-end stability, yielded a better solution. Tsunoda reportedly gained a tenth in the first corner, suggesting a different setup approach might be needed for Verstappen.
- No Bouncing on Mediums: Marko confirmed that Verstappen experienced no bouncing on the medium tires, suggesting the issue is not related to ride height, unlike previous problems in Mexico.
- Sprint vs. Grand Prix: The soft tire is unlikely to be heavily used in the Sprint Race or the Grand Prix itself, potentially offering some relief. Marko hopes for better competitiveness in these sessions, though he acknowledges overtaking is difficult at the Qatar circuit.
What's next:
Red Bull Racing faces the challenge of identifying and resolving the soft tire weakness ahead of the main race. While the field remains tight, Marko remains optimistic due to the small gaps between competitors. The team's ability to extract more performance from Friday to Saturday and Saturday to Sunday will be key to overcoming this hurdle and solidifying Verstappen's position at the front.