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Motorsport

Marko laments “massive problem” that caused Verstappen’s P7 qualifying

Helmut Marko Max Verstappen Lando Norris Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull Racing Bahrain Red Bull

Helmut Marko revealed that a “massive problem” led to Max Verstappen’s disappointing qualifying session in the Bahrain desert Saturday night. The Dutchman could only secure P7, and will start tomorrow’s grand prix just one place behind his championship rival Lando Norris.

“It was worse than expected because we changed a few things on the car which we thought would be an improvement, then all of a sudden we had this brake problem,” Marko told reporters after the session. “It was a massive problem, they could see it on the data, but we don’t know where it came from.”

The Red Bull racing advisor said that Yuki Tsunoda, who finished P10, didn’t suffer any problems. “It was only Max’s car,” he explained.

Viewers heard Verstappen complaining on the team radio about his “terrible” brakes, however Marko said the braking issue had “nothing to do” with the car’s new set-up. “It was not a smooth qualifying, but both cars were in the top 10, so that was a good achievement,” he continued. “And without the braking problems, it would have been P3 or P4.”

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing (Photo by: Mark Thompson - Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Marko praised Tsunoda’s Q3 performance, noting that the Japanese driver has been “going in the right direction” since his promotion to Red Bull last weekend. “His first lap was deleted [for track limits] and he still didn't lose his nerves, he stayed calm, and he was improving continuously,” he said. “That's what we're expecting from him.”

The Austrian also praised rookie Isack Hadjar’s “very competitive” performance in the RB. “Points are still possible,” he said of the 20-year-old Frenchman, who will start from P12 tomorrow.

As for Liam Lawson, who was unceremoniously replaced by Tsunoda last week, Marko said he was “slowly coming up to speed.” He curtly added: “Generally that is OK.”

Photos from Bahrain GP - Practice & Qualifying

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Fans

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Alexander Albon, Williams

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Alexander Albon, Williams

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Cockpit cooling in the Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Jodie Kidd

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team crash

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team crash car

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday

Formula 1

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Emily Selleck

Formula 1

Max Verstappen

Red Bull Racing

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