“We Have to Consult With the FIA”: Helmut Marko Reacts to Max Verstappen’s Abysmal Bahrain Qualifying

Sport Bilder des Tages Dr. Helmut Marko (AUT, Oracle Red Bull Racing), 1 Max Verstappen (NLD, Oracle Red Bull Racing),

Despite the persistent issues with the RB21, Max Verstappen has out-driven his machinery from the very start of the 2025 season, delivering some crucial results for Red Bull. A testament to that was his stellar pole position and victory at the Japanese GP last weekend.

However, that run of form seemed to come to an abrupt halt at the Bahrain GP on Saturday. At the Sakhir International Circuit, the Dutchman could only manage a modest P7 grid slot for Sunday’s Grand Prix, with even a podium finish looking difficult.

The current Red Bull car concept is plagued by an inherent lack of balance.

But this weekend, another issue came to light: instability and unreliability under braking, further compounding the team’s struggles.

The brakes on the RB21 did little to inspire confidence in the four-time world champion. Team advisor Helmut Marko pinpointed that issue as the main reason why the 27-year-old was unable to deliver a strong result in qualifying.

As a result, the 81-year-old has proposed a two-pronged approach to rectify the problem ahead of Sunday’s race. First, he suggested that the team isolate the root cause of the braking issues, and then consult the FIA — the sport’s governing body — to find a solution.

“We first have to figure out the cause of the brake problem. Then we have to consult with the FIA, to see if we can adjust, grind or replace the brake pads,” he explained, as quoted by F1Maximaal.nl.

As far as the championship is concerned, Verstappen shouldn’t be too worried about the outcome this weekend. It’s still early in the season, and the favorite and his closest title rival, Lando Norris, is starting from P6.

Currently, Norris holds just a one-point lead over Verstappen, and with a strong result ahead of the Briton, the Red Bull driver could reclaim the lead in the standings this weekend. That said, Verstappen will also be keeping an eye on Piastri, who remains very much in contention to take the championship lead himself.

Post Edited By: Somin Bhattacharjee
Bahrain GP Helmut Marko Max Verstappen Red Bull

About the author

Anirban Aly Mandal

Anirban Aly Mandal is an F1 writer at The SportsRush, with over 1000 articles under his belt, Anirban's love for F1 started when he discovered a copy of F1 2014 on his computer. With over half a decade's worth of time spent religiously following the sport, he’s dived deep into the world of motorsports. However, Anirban's expertise goes beyond just writing - he has also written several academic papers focused on the domain of motorsports and the law. His passion for the sport is so immense that he aspires to work as a legal advisor in the most prestigious racing series in the world someday. When it comes to Formula 1, Anirban finds great pleasure in re-watching classic races and idolizes the likes of Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, and Sebastian Vettel. His top picks include Brazil '91, Silverstone '92, and Germany '19. Outside of the sport, Anirban is an avid sim racer, often found racing on titles like Assetto Corsa, F1 22, and Automobilista. Apart from his interests in gaming, Anirban has a keen interest in philosophy, literature and music.

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