13/04/2025 15:05
Max Verstappen found a rare positive from what has been a
disappointing Bahrain Grand Prix weekend to date - but feels it
will be undermined by one of the clear limitations of the RB21.
Verstappen will start the race at the Bahrain International Circuit
from a relatively lowly seventh on the grid, just a week on from
his stunning performance in Japan where he secured the 64th win of
his F1 career from one of his best pole-clinching performances. The
four-time F1 champion finished six-tenths adrift of McLaren
polesitter Oscar Piastri after struggling with an RB21 displaying
brake problems, in particular, as well as an overall lack of pace.
At least Red Bull has two cars in the top 10 on the grid for the
first time this year, with Verstappen's new team-mate, Yuki Tsunoda
starting 10th, and providing potential strategy options under
certain circumstances. Asked whether the silver lining for him and
Red Bull was having Tsunoda in such a position, a wary Verstappen,
speaking to media, including RacingNews365 , replied: "It depends
if we have the pace, which I don't think we have. "The positive is
that we had two cars in Q3. The negative is that we struggle for
pace, so it's nice to have two cars in there, but if we are too
slow then it doesn't matter." As to why Verstappen was so off the
pace this weekend compared to his dominant display at Suzuka, he
said: "In Japan, it wasn't good as well, but here you just get
punished a bit harder when you have bigger balance issues. "That's
because the tarmac is so aggressive, the wind is also quite high,
and the track has quite low grip. So everything is highlighted
more." Whether that made the car more sensitive in such conditions,
he replied: "It is sensitive in general. But here, of course,
because of the tarmac and general grip, it's more difficult." "I'll
try to do the best I can. I hope that I can stay a bit with the
Mercedes and Ferraris. Naturally, I think the McLarens will pull
away. But we'll try our best."
