In the second practice session, Max Verstappen was significantly slower than the fastest of the day, Charles Leclerc. Red Bull Motorsport Consultant Dr. After the session, Helmut Marko explained why the gap was so big.
Max Verstappen's start to the Melbourne weekend was not without worries. The champion of the Red Bull Racing Team was second fastest in both free practice sessions: in the first session, he was only 18 thousandths off the record of three-time world champion Lando Norris; In the second practice session, a full 0.381 seconds separated him from the best time of the day, as Ferrari star Charles Leclerc scorched the asphalt of the Albert Park circuit.
There were many reasons for this, Red Bull motorsport consultant Dr. Helmut Marko explained in an interview with SPEEDWEEK.com. As usual, the man from Cross admitted openly: “Charles Leclerc is fast.” He added: “In the first practice session Max damaged the underbody and some things relatively badly, which meant we were out after 20 minutes in the second practice session.”
“We didn't see that in the fine tuning,” emphasized the person from Cross, who also revealed: “We didn't have strong engine performance in the qualifying heats, so it doesn't make sense.” But the world champions from Milton Keynes still have some work to do in terms of racing. The doctor said: “We were a bit behind for a long time. But this is due to lack of time. But it will be tight.
Reflecting on the race, the 80-year-old added: “If we don't get the coordination issues under control, the race will be close. But I am confident that we will win.”
2nd Training, Australia
01. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, 1:17.277 min
02. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:17,658
03. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, 1:17.707
04. Lance Stroll (CTN), Aston Martin, 1:17,822
05. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, 1:17.912
06. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, 1:17.951
07. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, 1:18.077
08. Sergio Perez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, 1:18.090
09. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, 1:18.155
10. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, 1:18,188
11. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, 1:18,421
12. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bulls, 1:18.534
13. Logan Sargent (USA), Williams, 1:18,578
14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Sauber, 1:18.585
15. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, 1:18,691
16. Nico Hulkenberg (D), Haas, +1:18,702
17. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, 1:18.705
18. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, 1:18.834
19. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, 1:19.275
Not active: Alex Alban (D), Williams
1. Practice Melbourne
01. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, 1:18.564 min
02. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:18.582 min
03. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, 1:18.597 min
04. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, 1:18.599 min
05. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, 1:18.621 min.
06. Sergio Perez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, 1:18.642 min
07. Lance Stroll (CTN), Aston Martin, 1:18.667 min
08. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, 1:18.686 min
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, 1:18.771 min
10. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, 1:18.918 min
11. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bulls, 1:19.274 min
12. Alex Alban (D), Williams, 1:19.443 min
13. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, 1:19.489 min
14. Logan Sargent (USA), Williams, 1:19.519 min.
15. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, 1:19,561 min
16. Nico Hulkenberg (D), Haas, +1:19.604 min
17. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, 1:19.622 min
18. Fernando Alonso (C), Aston Martin, 1:19.716 min
19. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Saber, 1:19.989 min
20. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Sauber, 1:20.014 min
