Crimson Bull is pinning its Australian Grand Prix hopes on Sunday’s forecast rain and Max Verstappen’s confirmed means to tug most efficiency out of no matter automotive he’s driving.
That was the decision of the workforce’s long-time ‘driver advisor’, Helmut Marko, after a observe session wherein each Crimson Bull drivers have been dogged by dealing with points. The RB21 had a troubled pre-season check in Bahrain and appeared little improved on day one in Melbourne, regardless of a raft of efficiency upgrades together with a brand new ground.
Verstappen and Liam Lawson have been fifth and sixteenth in first observe, then seventh and seventeenth in FP2, and Lawson was over half a second slower than his team-mate in each periods. In flip, Verstappen had an enormous deficit to the drivers who topped the periods: 4 tenths of a second slower than McLaren’s Lando Norris in FP1, and 6 tenths off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in FP2.
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Verstappen mentioned the stability of his RB21 “wasn’t utterly off”, which is the proverbial damnation of faint reward; an even bigger drawback was lack of grip which made the automotive unpredictable and susceptible to sliding, particularly within the first and remaining sectors of the Albert Park circuit.
“The primary observe session was higher,” Marko instructed Sky Sports activities Germany. “The adjustments we made afterwards didn’t show profitable. We nonetheless have another session tomorrow, however I estimate we’re about two to 3 tenths behind and, at greatest, wanting on the second row [of the grid].
“[The car] was fluctuating between understeer and oversteer – which, in fact, impacts tire put on in the long term. However I imagine we all know what must be executed.
Liam Lawson, Crimson Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, Crimson Bull Racing
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
“We’re not on the very entrance however, beneath regular circumstances, a podium end could be the utmost we are able to purpose for.”
New Zealander Lawson has solely contested 11 grands prix to date, having stood in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo for 5 rounds in 2023 after which changed the favored Australian on the RB workforce for the ultimate six races of 2024. He has by no means pushed on the Albert Park circuit earlier than, having moved from F2 to Japanese Tremendous Components in 2023, the yr F2 joined the Australian GP help program.
“We’re evaluating him with [Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi] Antonelli, who can be driving right here for the primary time,” mentioned Marko, who was clearly wanting within the different path when Antonelli completed fourth within the F2 function race right here final yr.
“The 2 are roughly on the identical tempo, regardless of Lawson not operating with full engine energy. So, it is okay, however there’s undoubtedly extra to return from him.”
McLaren’s clear edge on tempo is the chief motive for believing that third place is the perfect Crimson Bull can hope for given regular circumstances. However until Crimson Bull could make its automotive extra driveable in a single day, then it’s more likely to wrestle for each lap time and tire efficiency – which can have an effect on its strategic choices – in contrast with the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes.
In response to the climate forecast, although, ambient temperatures will drop by round 8C on Sunday and rain is anticipated. In Brazil final yr, when rain sparked chaos through the race, Verstappen drove from seventeenth on the grid to win, making his rivals look reasonably amateurish.
“It appears to be like like McLaren is the strongest workforce for the time being, with an in depth battle between Ferrari, Mercedes, and us,” mentioned Marko. “That battle could possibly be for positions three to 5. However I’ve heard there is perhaps rain – and if that occurs, the ‘Max issue’ comes into play once more.”
Extra reporting by Christian Nimmervoll
Photographs from Australian GP – Free Observe
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Stuart Codling
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