Red Bull in trouble during the Australian Grand Prix practice sessions

The least we can say is that Red Bull did not shine on the first day of the season. Max Verstappen, usually omnipresent at the front, was unable to climb higher than 5th place during the first free practice session (FP1). In the second (FP2), he dropped further to 7th position, six-tenths of a second behind leader Charles Leclerc.

Despite everything, Helmut Marko did not immediately lose hope. After FP1, he told ORF that of the four teams, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and ourselves, are very close. For him, Verstappen’s delay was not representative of Red Bull’s real performance, giving the impression that he expected the team to get back on track as soon as the situation became clearer.

But the rest of the day revealed another side, less optimistic. “The first practice session was better,” admitted Marko to Sky Germany. “What we did in terms of changes was not promising.” The team therefore had to face a harsh reality: the battle would be tougher than expected.

Max the Mailman

One thing is certain: **Max Verstappen** has the ability to turn the situation around. The Dutchman is well-known for his exceptional performances in the rain, and he has already proven himself on soaked tracks. We remember [his stunning victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix that year](https://www.example.com), where torrential rain only emphasized his advantage over his rivals.

Helmut Marko seems to place his last hopes on this unique ability of his driver. “I heard it was going to rain,” Marko said, referring to the weather conditions for the race. “And then, of course, the Max factor is back…” There is no doubt that the rain could well reshuffle the deck, and Verstappen could, as usual, come out on top.

Rain during the Grand Prix would probably play into the hands of the reigning world champion, who could then take control of the race. Weather conditions have always been a favorable playing field for him, and Red Bull could regain competitiveness thanks to its major asset.

Liam Lawson: A Difficult Debut

Parallel to Verstappen’s difficulties, his new teammate Liam Lawson did not shine either on this first day. After an accident in FP1, where he hit the wall at turn 9, the New Zealander finished FP2 in 17th position. Marko confirmed that the floor was damaged as a result of this incident, which only worsened Lawson’s situation, who still needs to find his footing in the team.

A difficult start to the weekend for Lawson, who will need to quickly recover from this setback if he wants to avoid ending on a negative note. The challenge is significant for him, but it’s not out of the question that the rain could offer a chance to make up for lost ground.