P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko has explained why Red Bull’s lap times left it well off the session-topping pace during practice in Bahrain.
Helmut Marko dismissed concerns about Red Bull’s performance following free practice in Bahrain, where Max Verstappen finished in sixth place, behind Lewis Hamilton. Despite Mercedes’ strong showing, Marko remains confident in Red Bull’s capabilities this season. Verstappen’s struggles with gear shifts during FP2 raised some issues, but Marko assured that the team is still competitive. Marko emphasized that the cooler temperatures and windy conditions affected Red Bull’s performance in practice, but they are adapting. He believes Red Bull remains the fastest team in terms of race pace, despite challenges in practice.
