Max Verstappen secured a comfortable victory in Jeddah after claiming pole position ahead of Charles Leclerc. The Formula 1 driver, along with Red Bull Racing, has been a dominant force in the sport for the past two seasons. Verstappen’s strong performance in the first two races of the 2024 season has made him the favorite for the F1 title. However, the team could face a tough challenge from Ferrari in the upcoming races. Dr. Helmut Marko, a key figure in Red Bull Racing, has expressed his concerns following Verstappen’s pole lap in Jeddah.
Marko had anticipated a challenging weekend for Red Bull in Saudi Arabia, despite their successful one-two finish in Bahrain. His fears were confirmed when Verstappen claimed pole position. The 80-year-old acknowledged that the lap revealed some issues for the team, despite finishing three-tenths ahead of their competitors. Marko had previously suggested that Ferrari might close the gap to Red Bull throughout the season, which could pose a threat to Verstappen and his team.
During the race, Verstappen faced difficulties with old and slippery tires in the final stages. However, his significant lead over the rest of the grid allowed him to comfortably secure his second win of the season. The Dutch driver made an impressive start in the Saudi Arabian GP, quickly gaining a one-second advantage after the first lap. Nevertheless, Marko admitted that Red Bull struggled with tire temperatures during the race, particularly when Verstappen encountered traffic.
According to Marko, Verstappen’s tire temperatures dropped when he was behind slower cars in Jeddah. This highlighted the team’s tire degradation issues in Saudi Arabia, despite the RB20 car’s strength in this area during the Bahrain GP. Red Bull may need to address these problems with tire temperature in the coming weeks. Currently, these issues have not affected Verstappen’s performance, as he continues to dominate the grid. However, if Charles Leclerc and others start challenging Verstappen for race wins, it could become a concern for the team.