The Australian Grand Prix was not what was expected at Red Bull, which had fifth place in Sergio “Checo” Pérez the best performance in a race to be forgotten that saw something atypical in recent seasons with the retirement of Max Verstappen due to mechanical problems.
The advisor of the Austrian team, Helmut Marko, pointed out after the test that although the performance of the Mexican driver was not as expected, it may have been a factor that was beyond the capabilities of the current runner-up of the Formula 1who started from sixth place on the grid.
On this occasion and unlike in the first two races in which Sergio “Checo” Pérez took second place behind his teammate, the Mexican could not beat the Ferrari, Carlos Sainz Jr. .and Charles Leclerc, first and second respectively.
“I think we have to look at the set-up. Maybe what we did yesterday (Saturday) for qualifying was not the right thing for the race.”Marko pointed out, referring to the classification in which the Mexican finished in third place but after a penalty he had to start from sixth place.
“Sometimes Sergio Pérez was two seconds slower than the Ferraris or the drivers in the lead. “This is not only due to the driving, but also because something went wrong in the set-up.”continued the former Austrian driver, taking responsibility from the Mexican for Red Bull’s disastrous weekend.
Helmut Marko also made reference to Max Verstappen’s surprise retirement in Australia after presenting mechanical problems, something that had not happened to the Dutch driver for more than two years. For the Austrian, if he had stayed on the track it would have been a different story for Carlos Sainz Jr.
“I spoke with Max Verstappen and he told me that despite the braking problems he had in the early stages of the race, he managed to keep up with Carlos Sainz Jr. with relative ease. I think he would have finished in a very different way with Max in the race.”said the Red Bull advisor.
After this atypical weekend for Red Bull, which remains at the top of the constructors’ standings for this still nascent 2024 F1 season, the energy drink team will have a week to try to correct the mistakes they had in Australia.
The next stop on the calendar will be the Japanese Grand Prix that will take place during the weekend of April 7 and where Max Verstappen and Sergio “Checo” Pérez will seek to reunite with their best version to put the Austrian team back on track. at the top of the podium.
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