Helmut Marko, the motorsport advisor for Red Bull Racing, voiced his frustration after the first two free practice sessions at the Japanese Grand Prix. Despite adjusting the car’s setup between the sessions, Red Bull was still unable to match expectations, particularly after simulator data indicated a promising performance.
The issue stemmed from a significant discrepancy between the simulator’s predictions and the car’s actual performance on the track. Marko explained, “Every time the simulator shows something positive, the baseline setup on the track is completely off. We need to review our processes in the simulator,” he told Auto, Motor und Sport. The simulator had suggested a configuration that would make Red Bull three-tenths of a second faster than what was achieved in reality.
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Unexpected Challenges During Free Practice Sessions
During the Friday sessions in Japan, Red Bull Racing found themselves struggling to match the pace of the Racing Bulls, the junior team featuring Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson. Hadjar and Lawson finished the sessions in third and fifth place, respectively, outpacing Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda.
Marko pointed out that the Racing Bulls had used more engine power than Red Bull, which likely contributed to their faster times. “They increased engine power more than Red Bull. That affects lap times,” Marko explained, noting that Lawson had even managed to finish ahead of Verstappen in one of the sessions.
Looking Ahead to the Final Practice and Qualifying
With the Japanese Grand Prix weekend progressing, Marko’s team was still working hard to correct the issues. Verstappen and Tsunoda would have one final free practice session before the all-important qualifying on Saturday. The third and final free practice session was scheduled for 03:30 UK time, with qualifying set to begin at 07:00.
Red Bull Racing will be hoping to make further adjustments before qualifying, as they aim to improve their position and secure a strong starting grid for Sunday’s race. The session results were followed closely by fans on GPblog, where all developments from the Suzuka paddock were being updated in real-time.
Despite the frustration with the simulator issues and the performance gap, Marko’s comments reflect the ongoing commitment within the Red Bull team to address any weaknesses and improve ahead of race day.
This article is originally published on gpblog.
