Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko is concerned by the team’s deficit to McLaren in high temperatures ahead of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.
Last time out in Saudi Arabia, McLaren had a sizeable advantage over the competition in final practice, which was played out in the harsh daytime temperatures in Jeddah.
Max Verstappen was eight tenths down on the leading McLaren duo in FP3, but as night fell, the Red Bull ace was able to snatch pole away from Oscar Piastri thanks to cooler temperatures equalising the field.
However, in Miami, daytime Florida warmth will be consistent throughout, and McLaren could see its advantage in the heat reinstated and Red Bull is poised to struggle in those conditions.
“What do the findings from the first five races mean for the upcoming race in Miami?” Marko wrote in his Speedweek column.
“Once again, we’re talking about a completely different track, but above all we’re expecting higher temperatures.
“On paper, that’s not an advantage for us. In Jeddah, we were eight-tenths behind McLaren in the third practice session, in significantly warmer conditions than later in qualifying.
“We and the other opponents expected McLaren to drive away from everyone. But that didn’t happen.
“In Miami, we still expect the conditions to be more in McLaren’s favour.”
Marko has called for Red Bull to improve on this aspect before the European leg of the season kicks off, where summer temperatures could pose a consistent threat.
“Our task at the moment is to develop a broader working window for our race car; and also to reduce certain weaknesses of the car before the races in Europe and thus improve the basic speed of the car,” the Austrian concluded.
Red Bull needs ‘consistency’, says Verstappen
Beyond dealing with a performance deficit to McLaren in hotter temperatures, Verstappen listed where else Red Bull needs to improve.
Adding to Marko’s concerns, Verstappen addressed the RB21’s through corner balance and the need for the team to produce more consistent results.
“I think we need to find more overall performance, balance especially, and of course consistency,” Verstappen told media including Motorsport Week after finishing second in Saudi Arabia.
“We are not good at every track. That’s quite clear. Bahrain, we were lacking a lot.
“Here [in Jeddah], for sure, it was a lot better.”
The recent F1 triple header saw Verstappen win in Suzuka, finish a below-par sixth in Bahrain before taking the runner up spot at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
The low grip Miami International Autodrome track surface, combined with hotter temperatures, could impact Verstappen and Red Bull significantly, and rid the Dutchman of the consistency he craves.
Verstappen is currently 12 points behind Piastri in the Drivers’ standings, with the Australian leading the way heading to the first of three F1 GPs on US soil.
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