FIA confirm late Verstappen change for Bahrain Grand Prix after…..read more
The FIA has officially confirmed that Red Bull Racing made a late change to Max Verstappen’s car following concerns about a technical issue, specifically related to the braking system. This adjustment was carried out under the parc ferme conditions — a set of rules that generally restrict car changes between qualifying and the race. Despite this, the modification was within the permitted guidelines, meaning Verstappen will not incur any penalties or be forced to start from the back of the grid.
This development came after a challenging qualifying session for the reigning world champion at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Verstappen was vocal over team radio and in interviews about persistent brake issues that significantly hampered his performance. As a result, he was unable to extract the expected pace from his Red Bull car and could only manage a seventh-place qualifying result.
The issue with the brakes appeared to intensify during the latter stages of the qualifying session. Verstappen struggled to maintain stability under heavy braking zones — a critical component at a circuit like Bahrain, which features a series of long straights and tight corners. His lack of confidence in the braking system was evident, and the team had to take swift action to avoid compromising their race strategy on Sunday.
Fortunately for Verstappen, he wasn’t the only title contender having a difficult day. Lando Norris, the current championship leader, also faced a rough qualifying outing. The McLaren driver was unable to find rhythm or speed on the desert track and could only put his car just one position ahead of Verstappen, securing sixth place on the grid. This meant Verstappen would at least be starting close to a key rival, potentially limiting the damage in the championship standings.
Red Bull’s senior advisor, Helmut Marko, addressed the issue after qualifying. He acknowledged that the team had made changes to the car setup ahead of the session, intending to improve performance. However, those changes appeared to have had unintended consequences, introducing a major braking problem that wasn’t present earlier in the weekend.
Marko stated, “It was worse than expected because we changed a few things on the car which we thought would be an improvement. Then all of a sudden we had this brake problem.” His comments reflected the team’s surprise and concern over the unforeseen problem, especially considering the high level of preparation usually seen from the Red Bull garage.
Despite the hiccup, the team acted quickly and effectively to make a legal adjustment that would restore confidence in the car’s braking system before lights out on race day. The FIA’s confirmation that the part change was within the allowed rules means Verstappen retains his seventh-place starting position and has a chance to fight his way up the order.
Heading into the race, all eyes will be on Verstappen to see how well the car performs with the adjustments and whether he can recover from his lower-than-usual grid position to secure a strong finish. With both Red Bull and McLaren drivers facing unexpected difficulties, the Bahrain Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling and unpredictable contest.
