Formula 1 Bahrain GP
Marko laments “massive problem” that caused Verstappen’s P7 qualifying
Both Red Bulls ended up outside the top five on Saturday in Bahrain
Emily Selleck Ronald Vording
Edited: Apr 12, 2025, 6:58 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Mark Thompson - Getty Images
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
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix - Saturday
Formula 1
76
Read Also:
Formula 1F1 Bahrain GP: Piastri takes pole, Norris and Verstappen out of top 5
Formula 1F1 2025 qualifying head-to-head: Bahrain GP
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Max Verstappen on Red Bull struggles: "All weekend it has been difficult"
Next article Downbeat Lewis Hamilton left searching for answers after P9 in Bahrain qualifying: "I really don't know"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Emily Selleck
Machine Gun Kelly, T-Pain and Zedd to headline F1 Las Vegas GP lineup
Formula 1
Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
Machine Gun Kelly, T-Pain and Zedd to headline F1 Las Vegas GP lineup
How Toni Breidinger uses fashion as a “creative outlet” to help her race
NASCAR Truck
NASCAR Truck
How Toni Breidinger uses fashion as a “creative outlet” to help her race
Lewis Hamilton reveals second Dior capsule collection with nods to South Africa and ‘Afrofuturism’
Culture
Culture
Lewis Hamilton reveals second Dior capsule collection with nods to South Africa and ‘Afrofuturism’
More from
Max Verstappen
Nicki Thiim's cheeky F1 jab: "Max Verstappen just wants to drive a proper race car!"
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 2 h
Nicki Thiim's cheeky F1 jab: "Max Verstappen just wants to drive a proper race car!"
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
7 h
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
More from
Red Bull Racing
Christian Horner takes cheeky swipe at Guenther Steiner: 'He never achieved an F1 podium'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Christian Horner takes cheeky swipe at Guenther Steiner: 'He never achieved an F1 podium'
Latest news
WEC Barcelona: Genesis secures maiden series pole from Toyota
WEC
WEC WEC
Barcelona
23 min
WEC Barcelona: Genesis secures maiden series pole from Toyota
Five-time IndyCar champion, first-time Indy NXT driver: Alex Palou tops IMS road course test
Indy NXT
IndL Indy NXT 1 h
Five-time IndyCar champion, first-time Indy NXT driver: Alex Palou tops IMS road course test
Gabriel Bortoleto on Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar's F1 success: 'Let's see where we are in 20 years'
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
2 h
Gabriel Bortoleto on Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar's F1 success: 'Let's see where we are in 20 years'
Nicki Thiim's cheeky F1 jab: "Max Verstappen just wants to drive a proper race car!"
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 2 h
Nicki Thiim's cheeky F1 jab: "Max Verstappen just wants to drive a proper race car!"
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe