Marko explains why Red Bull won't opt for a wet weather setup in Australia
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Red Bull Racing's Helmut Marko has made it clear what conditions he is hoping for during the Australian Grand Prix. After two sunny days in Melbourne, the unpredictable weather is set to take over from Saturday. On qualifying day, temperatures could soar to around 35°C, while Sunday is expected to be much cooler, with rain showers almost certain.
It’s a pleasant 25°C as Helmut Marko steps out of the Red Bull Racing garage to speak to the press after the second free practice session. Despite a session that didn’t go smoothly for Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson’s team, the 81-year-old Austrian appeared surprisingly upbeat. The same could be said for other key figures, including team boss Christian Horner and technical director Pierre Waché. Verstappen, however, shows little emotion as he exits the garage just before Marko—but he leaves no doubt about where his team currently stands.
Marko now hoping for rain in the Australian Grand Prix
As GPblog asks Marko whether Sunday's predicted rain could be beneficial for Red Bull, the top advisor cannot suppress a grin. "Rain. We all like rain," he replies, laughing. "Or mainly, Max likes rain. But the qualifying is for sure dry. So you will have a dry setup that makes it even more interesting if it rains."
With a strong chance of a wet race, Red Bull is still opting for a qualifying-focused setup—designed for dry conditions. According to Marko, there’s a clear reason why the team isn’t prioritising a wet-weather setup. "Maybe you are then starting below fifteenth or something. Max can win from p17, he proved it in Brazil, but it's not sure here. Melbourne is famous for the weather change and only relying on the weather forecast. That's too risky." Marko concluded his explanation.
During the second free practice session, Red Bull found themselves trailing their sister team, Racing Bulls. While Verstappen and Lawson managed only seventh and 17th place, Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar impressed by securing fourth and sixth on the timesheets. However, Marko had a clear explanation for the surprising results.
This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon
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