Helmut Marko, the motorsport advisor for Red Bull, provided a comprehensive overview of the Australian Grand Prix, including RB’s performance. He praised Yuki Tsunoda as an incredibly matured F1 driver.
Marko, in his role as the motorsport advisor for Red Bull, reflected on the performance of four drivers from two teams, including RB, in the final of the F1 Australian Grand Prix. He particularly commended Yuki Tsunoda of RB, stating, “It was a flawless drive.”
Despite Max Verstappen starting the race from pole position, he encountered brake trouble from the first lap, leading to an unexpected retirement after completing just four laps.
Regarding the issues Verstappen faced, Marko shared with Sky Germany, “We’re still not entirely sure, but it already happened on the lap where he was overtaken by (Ferrari’s Carlos) Sainz Jr.
The brakes weren’t released in that corner, causing the car to slide slightly sideways, allowing Sainz Jr. to overtake him relatively easily.” He added, “And as a result, the brakes completely stopped working. It was fortunate that it didn’t spread to other areas, but we need to pinpoint the exact cause.”
Marko believes that if the trouble hadn’t occurred, Verstappen would have been capable of matching or surpassing Sainz Jr.’s pace. “I spoke to Max, and despite having problems with braking from the early stages, he said he could relatively easily keep up with Sainz Jr.’s pace.
“If Max had been able to race, the outcome would have been completely different,” Marko remarked.
Looking ahead to the next race, the Japanese Grand Prix, Marko expressed optimism that Verstappen would be able to regain control if no issues arise.
“Japan (Suzuka) is a completely different circuit. I think our problems were specific to Melbourne. It’s dangerous that Ferrari is getting stronger, but if Max can race without problems, we should be able to regain control.”
Sergio Perez, despite qualifying third, started from sixth due to a three-place grid penalty for impeding other cars during qualifying. He struggled with a damaged floor during the race, resulting in a fifth-place finish as he couldn’t maintain the pace he desired.
Marko commented on Perez’s performance, suggesting a need to reassess the setup. “I think we need to reconsider the setup. What we did in qualifying yesterday might not have been right for the race.
“We were also two seconds slower than Ferrari and the top teams. It wasn’t just the driver’s fault; there were issues with the setup as well.”
On the other hand, Yuki Tsunoda delivered a remarkable race for Red Bull. Despite starting eighth, he showcased a solid performance, finishing eighth after three cars from the leading teams retired.
Marko, who had previously called for Tsunoda to improve his race pace, praised his performance, saying, “Yuki showed perfect driving from the first lap on Friday, and he recorded very consistent good times in today’s race.
“When (Haas’s Nico) Hulkenberg attacked, he immediately countered. I think we could confirm that Yuki is an absolutely matured driver.”
Daniel Ricciardo, who finished the race in 12th place after starting from 18th on his home circuit, received comments from Marko about needing a safe and confident car. “He’s struggling. We’ll have to see. There were some promising signs in Bahrain testing.
“But the past few races haven’t gone very well for him. I think Ricciardo needs a safe and confident car. At least, I hope the team can provide that so he can be on par with Yuki.”
