Max Verstappen recently expressed his concerns about the performance of Red Bull Racing during the long-run practice sessions ahead of the prestigious Formula 1 Imola Grand Prix. Verstappen, the reigning world champion, found himself overtaken and left behind by the McLaren drivers, which has raised questions about Red Bull’s competitiveness this season. Helmut Marko, an advisor for Red Bull, echoed Verstappen’s sentiments, highlighting that the team is currently lacking in performance by approximately four-tenths of a second.
During the opening practice session (FP1), Verstappen faced challenges and finished in fifth place. However, he managed to improve slightly in the second practice session (FP2), while still trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 0.442 seconds. This discrepancy indicates that Red Bull has not made significant strides in closing the gap to its rivals, particularly the McLaren team, despite bringing several upgrades to their car for the Imola race.
The upgrades introduced by Red Bull include a redesigned engine cover, enhancements to the rear suspension, and modifications to the rear corner of the vehicle. While these changes were intended to boost performance, it appears that McLaren has also implemented their own set of improvements at the historic Italian circuit. This has led to concerns that Red Bull’s advancements may not have been enough to gain a competitive edge over McLaren, especially in longer race stints.
Verstappen commented on the situation, stating, “We tried a lot of bits, some worked better than others, but overall we are not fast enough at the moment.” When asked about his confidence in securing a fourth pole position of the season, he admitted, “At the moment, not very high. We definitely need a bit more work to just get a better through-corner balance to go faster.”
Marko’s assessment of the team’s performance was similarly bleak. He noted that although there was some progress compared to the “depressing” weekend in Miami—where Verstappen finished a staggering 40 seconds behind Piastri—Red Bull still finds itself not quite in the mix. Marko remarked, “Disappointing, McLaren is still, from what it looks like, four tenths ahead—that’s quite a lot on this track.”
He further elaborated, stating, “We have made some progress with our updates, but basically, we haven’t come much closer. The fact remains that McLaren is absolutely superior.” Marko compared the current situation to their performance in Miami, where they were seven-tenths to a second behind in the race. He noted, “Here, it looks like we are about four tenths behind. That would mean we’ve made a step forward.”
Looking ahead, Marko expressed cautious optimism about qualifying and the potential for improvements in tire degradation during the race. He mentioned, “It seems like that has improved a bit.” Additionally, he highlighted a positive aspect of the team’s performance: Yuki Tsunoda, a driver for AlphaTauri, was within a tenth of Verstappen’s time and appeared to be adapting well to the car’s setup.
With the Imola Grand Prix rapidly approaching, fans and analysts alike are eager to see if Red Bull can find the pace needed to challenge McLaren and other competitors effectively. The team’s performance in qualifying and the race itself will be critical in determining their standing in the championship as the season progresses. As Red Bull continues to work on their car’s performance, the results from Imola could be pivotal in shaping the narrative of the 2023 Formula 1 season.
