Breaking:Christian Horner Opens Up About Red Bull’s Troubles at Bahrain GP…read more
Christian Horner Opens Up About Red Bull’s Troubles at Bahrain GP
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has shed light on the problems the team encountered during a challenging weekend at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The fourth round of the Formula 1 season presented a sharp contrast to their triumphant outing at Suzuka, where the team had celebrated a race win just a week earlier.
At the Bahrain International Circuit, both Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda struggled for pace, with neither driver able to mount a serious challenge at the front. Tsunoda, however, managed to show some progress by finishing in P9, earning his first points with the senior team. Verstappen, meanwhile, could only manage to finish three places ahead of his new teammate, in what was a frustrating race for the defending champion.
Verstappen, who had voiced his dissatisfaction with the car’s performance throughout the weekend, repeatedly complained of a lack of grip during the race. After the chequered flag, he labeled the result as “positive” only in light of the multiple setbacks the team experienced during the event.
Red Bull’s issues began right at the start of the race. Verstappen got off the line poorly, immediately losing positions. As the race unfolded, the team faced persistent problems with tire temperatures, with both drivers suffering from excessive overheating on all compounds. Pit stop performance also hampered the team’s chances, with both Verstappen and Tsunoda enduring unusually slow stops.
Speaking to the media after the race, Horner addressed the widespread rumors of a “crisis meeting” being held within the Red Bull camp. While he did not confirm such a meeting had taken place, Horner acknowledged the difficulties the team had encountered in Bahrain.
“We had two problems this weekend: a brake issue and a balance issue,” Horner revealed. “There was also a problem with a wire in the pit lane that contributed to the slow stops. These aren’t catastrophic problems, but together they definitely hurt us.”
Horner went on to suggest that Red Bull had been able to mask some of these underlying issues in Japan, thanks to the car setup and track conditions at Suzuka. However, the Bahrain race exposed the team’s current vulnerabilities.
“I think we were able to hide the problems a bit last weekend with the way we set up the car,” he said. “But Bahrain clearly highlighted where we’re weak, and now it’s about finding the right fixes.”
Despite the challenges, Horner maintained a composed and forward-looking tone. “We know where the problems are, but solving them will take time. We’ll keep pushing forward.”
Verstappen, however, didn’t share his team boss’s optimism. In his post-race debrief, the 27-year-old Dutchman didn’t mince words, saying bluntly, “Basically everything went wrong.”
As Red Bull prepares for the next round of the championship, the team will be under pressure to bounce back and address the technical and operational issues that disrupted their Bahrain performance. With rivals closing in, Red Bull knows there is little room for error if they hope to maintain their edge in the 2025 campaign.
