Christian Horner Concerned as McLaren Outpaces Rivals in Practice Sessions

Team principal of Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner, expresses concern about the performance of McLaren during the second practice session in Bahrain. The duo, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, topped the leaderboard, with a significant half-second advantage over Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.

Red Bull Faces Challenges in Adapting to Bahrain Circuit Conditions

With Red Bull reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa taking the wheel during the first practice session, Max Verstappen found himself down in seventh place, eight tenths behind the leaders. Yuki Tsunoda struggled further down the grid in 18th position after conducting set-up experiments to aid his adaptation to the track.

Horner believes that McLaren is a class above this weekend, with the abrasive Bahrain circuit favoring ‘s superior tire management and making it difficult for Red Bull to keep faster cars at bay during the race.

Red Bull Needs to Address Temperature-Related Issues

Horner stated that Red Bull needs to understand how to improve its performance, which he believes is primarily temperature-related. The team overhauled its setup last weekend in Japan after a challenging Friday practice session, but Horner fears that Bahrain’s more abrasive layout will exacerbate McLaren‘s advantage.

Horner warned that repeating Verstappen’s outstanding pole position from the previous week would be difficult on this track, where overtaking is relatively easy. He emphasized the need for extensive work with the engineers to address these issues before the race.

Red Bull’s Deficit Goes Beyond Engine Modes

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko shared Horner’s concerns, stating that the team’s deficit extends beyond engine modes. He explained that Red Bull is struggling with tire heat management and sliding issues, which are worsening as temperatures rise. Despite a brief recovery during three or four laps, the track does not suit Red Bull, and the high temperatures are compounding the problem.