Breaking:FIA confirm late Verstappen change for Bahrain Grand Prix after….read more
FIA confirm late Verstappen change for Bahrain Grand Prix after….read more
The FIA has confirmed that Red Bull Racing made a late modification to Max Verstappen’s car under parc fermé conditions ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix. The change came after the team raised concerns about a braking issue that plagued the reigning world champion during Saturday’s qualifying session. Despite the modification, the alteration complies with FIA rules, meaning Verstappen will not receive any grid penalty and will retain his seventh-place starting position.
Verstappen had a frustrating time during qualifying, repeatedly voicing concerns about the car’s braking performance. The Dutch driver lacked his usual pace and could only manage seventh on the grid. He was narrowly out-qualified by McLaren’s Lando Norris, the current championship leader, who also struggled during the session and secured sixth place.
Following qualifying, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko shed light on the issue. “It was worse than expected,” he said. “We changed a few things on the car that we believed would help, but suddenly we were faced with a significant braking problem.” According to Marko, the issue was clearly visible in the team’s data, although the exact source remained unclear at the time.
Despite the uncertainty, the team appears to have either identified the root of the issue or taken what they believe to be the necessary corrective action. The FIA permitted Red Bull to change the problematic component overnight without breaching regulations, as the change was deemed legal and necessary for safety and performance.
Verstappen was not alone in receiving attention between qualifying and the race. Lando Norris also had work done on his McLaren, with his gearbox undergoing adjustments. Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar had a brake-by-wire unit replaced on his car, and six other drivers across the grid saw technical tweaks or repairs carried out on their vehicles.
Marko remained optimistic despite the setback. “It was not a smooth qualifying session,” he acknowledged. “But having both cars finish in the top 10 was still a decent result. Without the braking issues, Max could have been starting third or fourth.”
With the modifications approved and the car’s issues seemingly addressed, Verstappen will look to fight through the field in Sunday’s race. The team will hope the late fix helps him recover lost ground and maintain momentum in the champio
nship battle.
