Helmut Marko calls out Racing Bulls: Strategy "ruined their race"
Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda finished in 14th and 19th-place, respectively, at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has claimed that the strategy for the Racing Bulls team was not good enough at the Chinese Grand Prix.
After Isack Hadjar started from seventh and Yuki Tsunoda from ninth, both drivers finished outside of the points. The former finished the race at the Shanghai International Circuit in 14th, whereas, Tsunoda crossed the line in 19th after his front wing broke and had to be replaced.
Marko believes that Racing Bulls should have had at least one of the drivers on a one-stop strategy. Speaking to Motorsport.com after the race, Marko explained:
"I would say one stop at least with one car they should have tried, and then we saw once they are in traffic, it's very, very difficult to overtake. That ruined their race.
"I think at least for one point would have been possible because they were always with Antonelli, on the same pace.
"So their strategy people have to really go into it and make sure that the right decisions are done."
Tsunoda ran into an issue on the 48th lap of the race where his front wing suddenly snapped, forcing him to pit for a replacement. Addressing the obscure moment, Marko added:
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
"Yeah, so he didn't hit anyone or so. Maybe something was on the road or a technical failure. I don't know yet."
Heading into the race, a two-stop strategy was expected to be the best option due to the resurfaced tarmac on the Shanghai International Circuit. However, the increased tyre degradation didn't pose as much of a threat as anticipated. Pirelli motorsport director Mario Isola had commented after qualifying yesterday:
"The graining on the left front tyre is still there. And the wear on the medium tyre is quite high for some teams. It was even towards the limit.
"Therefore, we expect that the best strategy tomorrow will be a two-stop: medium, hard and hard. Nobody has data on the hard tyre yet, but we do think that is the best approach."
Photos from Chinese GP - Race
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Sunday
Share Or Save This Story
Top Comments
Hungaroring development moving faster than expected: Ticket sales expected soon
Scott McLaughlin and Devlin DeFrancesco seen in heated exchange after IndyCar incident
NASCAR at Martinsville weather guide: Chance of rain at the Cook Out 400
Red Bull to hold meeting after Chinese GP disappointment - Helmut Marko
Red Bull's Helmut Marko responds to Lewis Hamilton pole: "Unbelievable achievement"
Christian Horner responds to "embarrassing" Helmut Marko comment after Isack Hadjar crash
Ralf Schumacher: Red Bull is “destabilising the good Racing Bulls team”
Lawson, Tsunoda or even Colapinto? Red Bull now has tough decisions to make
The three-way scrap that kept everybody guessing in F1 2024
NASCAR’s Parker Kligerman puts fans behind the wheel in racing experiment
Hungaroring development moving faster than expected: Ticket sales expected soon
Lewis Hamilton stars on F1 25 cover in Ferrari colours as reveal date confirmed
Larson thinks he would have "about 50 Cup wins right now” without Next Gen car
What to expect from F1 teams trying ‘normal’ car launches in this very different pre-season
The pitfalls and vocabulary to be aware of during 2025's F1 launch season
How F1 team bosses used to be far larger characters
How each driver's F1 2024 race pace stacked up
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
