Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

Hadjar set for Belgian GP grid penalty after F1 engine change

Formula 1
Belgian GP
Hadjar set for Belgian GP grid penalty after F1 engine change

F1 Belgian GP: Verstappen quickest in FP1 over Hamilton

Formula 1
Belgian GP
F1 Belgian GP: Verstappen quickest in FP1 over Hamilton

Why return to a happy hunting ground is key for Solberg

WRC
Rally Estonia
Why return to a happy hunting ground is key for Solberg

Why Verstappen has signed a McLaren F1 junior

Formula 1
Belgian GP
Why Verstappen has signed a McLaren F1 junior

‘Like being asked to draw the Mona Lisa’ – Russell explains how he is struggling to match Antonelli

Formula 1
Belgian GP
‘Like being asked to draw the Mona Lisa’ – Russell explains how he is struggling to match Antonelli

What Verstappen did – and didn't – say about his F1 future and McLaren at Spa

Formula 1
Belgian GP
What Verstappen did – and didn't – say about his F1 future and McLaren at Spa

“A shock to the system” – Why teams fear the worst with F1’s 2026 cars at Spa

Feature
Formula 1
Belgian GP
“A shock to the system” – Why teams fear the worst with F1’s 2026 cars at Spa

LIVE: F1 Belgian GP commentary and updates - Verstappen tops FP1 from Hamilton

Formula 1
Belgian GP
LIVE: F1 Belgian GP commentary and updates - Verstappen tops FP1 from Hamilton

Red Bull has new problems in Bahrain F1 test says Sebastian Vettel

Red Bull's problems on day one of the first Bahrain Formula 1 test are different to those that blighted its running at Jerez two weeks ago, according to Sebastian Vettel

The 26-year-old managed only 14 laps on Wednesday but is confident that the troubles that afflicted Red Bull in Spain have been solved.

"We have fixed the problems from [Jerez], we had a problem with temperature which we seemed to have fixed today with the couple of laps that we could do," said Vettel, who was halted by a spin caused by a rear brake problem, which is believed to be overheating-related.

"Very often, you fix one problem then another problem pops up so I think there is stuff to do on the Red Bull Racing side in terms of reliability, temperatures, in general around the car, and there's stuff on the Renault side.

"It's not fair to separate those two, we are a team and we have been very successful together.

Bahrain test day one report

"It's not the start we were hoping for but we still have some time and clever people on board, who can hopefully fix the problems."

Vettel, who completed only 11 laps in the RB10 at Jerez, did have the chance to get an impression of the car's performance for the first time.

While he needs more running to draw any definitive conclusions, he is confident the problems will be solved and that he will soon be able to get the time in the car he needs.

F1 testing in pictures

"It's fairly difficult to judge where we are, I haven't had much of a car yet," he said.

"The first gut feel is OK but we need running to judge the car, to judge reliability, to judge performance.

"It's difficult to get a feel when you have only done a couple of laps and not everything is running smoothly.

"We didn't expect to have that many problems right at the beginning, but it is what it is and I know that everyone is 100 per cent working flat-out trying to find solutions as quick as we can."

AUTOSPORT Live coverage of the Bahrain F1 test resumes at 6am UK time on Thursday.

Previous article Grosjean: no set-up work for Lotus before F1-opening Australian GP
Next article Felipe Massa sanguine about Williams issues in Bahrain F1 test

Top Comments

Latest news