P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen and Christian Horner have conceded Red Bull has a huge deficit to McLaren at the F1 Bahrain GP.
After a surprising win at Suzuka, Verstappen and Red Bull faced a setback at the Bahrain Circuit, with their performance trailing behind McLaren’s benchmark. Verstappen voiced his disappointment with the lack of grip and overall performance, indicating a challenging road ahead. Team principal Horner acknowledged McLaren’s speed and highlighted the need for improvement, particularly in managing temperatures. Verstappen acknowledged the significant performance gap to McLaren, hinting at a different approach taken during practice. Red Bull’s Helmut Marko admitted the team’s struggle with pace and overheating tires, foreseeing a tough race weekend in Bahrain. Despite the difficulties, Verstappen and Red Bull are preparing to tackle the race with determination and strategic adjustments.