Just a week after an unexpected Formula 1 victory in Japan, Red Bull was brought back down to reality in Bahrain.
While Max Verstappen made the difference in Suzuka with a sensational pole lap — and it proved impossible to overtake on Sunday — the race weekend in Bahrain better exposes the true pecking order. Speaking to Dutch media, including Motorsport.com, on Saturday, Verstappen stated that Red Bull is currently half a second per lap behind McLaren.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko pointed to a 'massive brake problem' as the main cause for Verstappen's deficit and thought Verstappen would have been third or fourth on the grid without that issue.