Red Bull Pinpoints Max Verstappen's Soft Tire 'Problem' After Rare Qatar Setback
Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko has identified the soft tire as a significant "problem" for Max Verstappen's RB21 during Qatar's sprint qualifying, leading to an uncharacteristically low sixth-place start. Verstappen reported severe bouncing, resulting in floor damage and being out-qualified by teammate Yuki Tsunoda. The team is urgently seeking solutions for the main qualifying session.
Red Bull experienced a rare struggle during sprint qualifying for the Qatar Grand Prix, with adviser Helmut Marko highlighting a specific "problem" with the RB21 on soft tires, which was particularly pronounced for Max Verstappen.
Why it matters:
Verstappen's sixth-place sprint qualifying result in Qatar marked the first time he's been out-qualified by a teammate since Yuki Tsunoda joined two rounds into the current F1 season. This uncharacteristic performance underscores a significant technical challenge for Red Bull, especially as they aim to maintain their dominant form and contend for championships, making understanding and resolving this tire issue critical.
The details:
- Verstappen qualified sixth for the sprint race, lining up alongside Tsunoda, who was marginally quicker.
- During the sole free practice session, Verstappen reported clipping at Turn 6. In qualifying, he complained about significant bouncing on the soft compound tires.
- This led to him running wide into the gravel, causing floor damage to his car and contributing to his low grid slot.
- According to Marko, Red Bull was competitive on medium and hard tires, but the changes made did not resolve their soft tire issues.
- Setup Differences: Yuki Tsunoda's car apparently handled the soft tires better, gaining a tenth in the first corner. Verstappen desired more front-end grip, while Tsunoda opted for more rear-end, which proved to be a better solution for the soft compound.
- Marko found it strange that bouncing only occurred on the soft tires, despite ride height remaining consistent across compounds. The team is actively investigating the cause.
What's next:
Red Bull is optimistic about resolving the soft tire issue before tomorrow's qualifying session for the main Grand Prix. Addressing this weakness is crucial if Verstappen is to bounce back and secure a strong grid position, preventing this rare setback from impacting their overall weekend performance and championship aspirations.