Red Bull are bracing for a difficult weekend at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, as Helmut Marko admitted the team is unlikely to have the pace to challenge for victory under “normal conditions” after a disappointing Friday in Melbourne.
Despite arriving with a package of upgrades, including a new floor, Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson struggled with a car that remains difficult to handle. After a winter of questions following a mixed pre-season test in Bahrain, the team had hoped for answers at Albert Park.
Instead, Verstappen could only manage seventh in FP2, while rookie Lawson slumped to 17th, leaving Red Bull behind rivals like Ferrari, McLaren, and even Racing Bulls. Verstappen trailed Charles Leclerc’s leading time by more than six-tenths of a second, and was also beaten by both Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar.
Marko Highlights Balance Problems and Limited Options
Speaking to Sky Sports Deutschland, Marko made it clear that Red Bull’s balance issues are far from resolved.
“The first practice session was better,” Marko said. “The changes we made afterwards didn’t prove successful. We still have one more session tomorrow, but I estimate we’re about two to three tenths behind and, at best, looking at the second row [of the grid].”
Marko also revealed the RB21 is struggling to find a stable balance, something that will hurt tire wear over the race, and lead to pace issues for Red Bull.
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“The car was fluctuating between understeer and oversteer, which, of course, affects tire wear in the long run. But I believe we know what needs to be done,” Marko added. “We’re not at the very front but, under normal conditions, a podium finish would be the maximum we can aim for.”
Verstappen, known for handling difficult cars, was pragmatic after practice, saying, “The balance wasn’t completely off,” but acknowledging a lack of grip left the car sliding unpredictably in key corners.
With such pace issues, Marko suggested that Red Bull are now hoping for rain, scheduled to arrive on Sunday, to give Verstappen a fighting chance.
“It looks like McLaren is the strongest team at the moment, with a close fight between Ferrari, Mercedes, and us,” Marko admitted. “That battle could be for positions three to five. But I’ve heard there might be rain – and if that happens, the ‘Max factor’ comes into play again.”
Red Bull’s Uncertain Outlook
Liam Lawson, still adjusting to life as Verstappen’s teammate, ended both practice sessions far behind and continues to find his feet at the top level. Marko defended Lawson’s performance, comparing him to Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is also racing at Albert Park for the first time.
“The two are more or less on the same pace, despite Lawson not running with full engine power,” Marko said. “So, it’s okay, but there’s definitely more to come from him.”
However, it’s clear that McLaren’s strong pace, along with a resurgent Ferrari, has left Red Bull on the defensive. Unless overnight changes yield improvements, Verstappen may need to rely on unpredictable weather — and his exceptional talent — to salvage a strong result.
As the reigning champion prepares for qualifying, Saturday’s final practice session will be crucial to determine whether Red Bull can close the gap or if they will be forced to fight from behind when the lights go out on Sunday.
