Helmut Marko says there are severe considerations that Max Verstappen might go away Purple Bull on the finish of the season if the workforce doesn’t enhance its efficiency.
Verstappen completed sixth on the Bahrain Grand Prix after overtaking Pierre Gasly on the ultimate lap of the race, however was over half a minute behind race-winner Oscar Piastri regardless of a security automobile neutralizing the race with simply 24 laps to go. After Verstappen struggled so closely with tire degradation, stability points and braking issues, Marko admitted options must be discovered shortly.
“The priority is nice,” Marko informed Sky Germany of the concern that Verstappen might go away on the finish of the season. “As I mentioned, enhancements have to come back within the close to future in order that he has a automobile with which he can win once more. We have now to create a foundation with a automobile in order that he can combat for the world championship.”
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Verstappen’s possibilities of a greater outcome have been additionally hampered by two gradual pit stops – one for a signaling challenge and one other as a consequence of a gradual tire change – and he says it merely compounded a troublesome night for him.
“The tempo was very unhealthy, however after all I didn’t count on the race that I had, as a result of mainly every little thing went fallacious that might go fallacious,” Verstappen mentioned. “That in all probability made it just a little bit worse. However I feel the place the place I completed is, on the finish of the day, the utmost that we might have carried out.
“The brakes are just a little bit higher as a result of we have been allowed to vary the fabric, however the issue will not be solely the sensation within the brakes, which continues to be not the place I need it to be, but in addition our tires are simply overheating, so after I’m braking there isn’t a feeling, as a result of it’s tremendous simple to lock fronts or rears on the similar time.”
Having gained in Japan per week earlier, Verstappen mentioned the observe structure and floor in Bahrain uncovered Purple Bull’s weaknesses much more.
“Missing stability [is the cause], and it’s highlighted much more on this observe. When you haven’t any stability and no tire administration, or worse tire administration than the others, then on this observe it’s worse.
“I simply really feel like we’re even worse on tires in some way this 12 months. It makes it simply very sophisticated. As a result of final 12 months we weren’t too unhealthy round right here. In fact then folks made enhancements, however I really feel like we truly had a worse weekend than final 12 months. So it’s a bit bizarre.”
