Pink Bull is pinning its Australian Grand Prix hopes on Sunday’s forecast rain and Max Verstappen’s confirmed capacity to tug most efficiency out of no matter automobile he’s driving.
That was the decision of the crew’s long-time ‘driver advisor’, Helmut Marko, after a follow session through which each Pink Bull drivers have been dogged by dealing with points. The RB21 had a troubled pre-season check in Bahrain and appeared little improved on day one in Melbourne, regardless of a raft of efficiency upgrades together with a brand new ground.
Verstappen and Liam Lawson have been fifth and sixteenth in first follow, then seventh and seventeenth in FP2, and Lawson was over half a second slower than his team-mate in each periods. In flip, Verstappen had a giant deficit to the drivers who topped the periods: 4 tenths of a second slower than McLaren’s Lando Norris in FP1, and 6 tenths off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in FP2.
Verstappen mentioned the steadiness of his RB21 “wasn’t utterly off”, which is the proverbial damnation of faint reward; an even bigger drawback was lack of grip which made the automobile unpredictable and susceptible to sliding, particularly within the first and remaining sectors of the Albert Park circuit.
“The primary follow session was higher,” Marko advised Sky Sports activities Germany. “The modifications we made afterwards didn’t show profitable. We nonetheless have yet one more session tomorrow, however I estimate we’re about two to 3 tenths behind and, at finest, wanting on the second row [of the grid].
“[The car] was fluctuating between understeer and oversteer – which, in fact, impacts tyre put on in the long term. However I consider we all know what must be achieved.
Liam Lawson, Pink Bull Racing
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photographs
“We’re not on the very entrance however, below regular circumstances, a podium end could be the utmost we are able to goal for.”
New Zealander Lawson has solely contested 11 grands prix to this point, having stood in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo for 5 rounds in 2023 after which changed the favored Australian on the RB crew for the ultimate six races of 2024. He has by no means pushed on the Albert Park circuit earlier than, having moved from F2 to Japanese Tremendous Method in 2023, the 12 months F2 joined the Australian GP help program.
“We’re evaluating him with [Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi] Antonelli, who can also be driving right here for the primary time,” mentioned Marko, who was clearly wanting within the different route when Antonelli completed fourth within the F2 characteristic race right here final 12 months.
“The 2 are kind of on the identical tempo, regardless of Lawson not operating with full engine energy. So, it is okay, however there’s positively extra to come back from him.”
McLaren’s clear edge on tempo is the chief purpose for believing that third place is the very best Pink Bull can hope for given regular circumstances. However except Pink Bull could make its automobile extra driveable in a single day, then it’s more likely to battle for each lap time and tyre efficiency – which is able to have an effect on its strategic choices – in contrast with the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes.
Based on the climate forecast, although, ambient temperatures will drop by round 8C on Sunday and rain is anticipated. In Brazil final 12 months, when rain sparked chaos through the race, Verstappen drove from seventeenth on the grid to win, making his rivals look reasonably amateurish.
“It appears like McLaren is the strongest crew for the time being, with an in depth battle between Ferrari, Mercedes, and us,” mentioned Marko. “That battle could possibly be for positions three to 5. However I’ve heard there may be rain – and if that occurs, the ‘Max issue’ comes into play once more.”
Extra reporting by Christian Nimmervoll
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Stuart Codling
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Pink Bull Racing
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