The Bahrain Formula One Pre-Season Testing often works as the season’s champion decider. So far, going through the data coming from the test runs of the F1 cars, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are leading first-second for the championship trophy with the help of Red Bull’s latest creation, RB19. Once again, the team is heading with the same domination as last year. It was quite expected from Red Bull, but what unexpectedly came was the progress of Ferrari and Mercedes in just a course of a winter.
Red Bull’s advisor, Dr. Helmut Marko, is surprised to see how Ferrari and Mercedes overcame the bouncing issues. He somehow believes that the porpoising problem is still ongoing from Mercedes. In an interview with the Austrian OE24, Marko suspected that both the rivals, Mercedes and Ferrari, suffered from porpoising again this year during the test runs. “They fine-tuned it in the chassis, and it seems to work normally again now. But were they driving at full power? And how much fuel was on board?” said Helmut.
Mercedes Must Have The Remains Of Porpoising, While Ferrari May Come Stronger Helmut Marko Shares Views
Despite the fact that Mercedes was clean for porpoising issues in the problems enlisted sheet, Helmut is kind of manipulated that the problem is still there with the rival team. Even Lewis Hamilton, who faced a few balancing issues in W14 during the second day of the Bahrain test sessions, confirmed that there is no bouncing in the car, which feels good to drive. But Marko has something in his view that makes him believe Hamilton is lying. Also that this year, FIA gave relief to the struggling teams by allowing 15 millimeters of the high drive. So it may have helped Mercedes overcome the bouncing problem. But not completely.
Meanwhile, speaking of the Scuderia team, Helmut Marko says that they can become very challenging this year. Ferrari has always preferred bringing innovations; they have used S-Duct front wings, which are unique and resulting as expected. Denying Mercedes being stronger, Marko wants to claim that Ferrari will bring serious obstacles to Red Bull on the path to the championship. “They have increased the horsepower,” he said. Going on the straight, Ferrari can beat Red Bull, but how can Helmut forget that they are compensating with a more complete package?
Now speaking more on the matter will be worthless. Only the Bahrain Grand Prix can make things clear, whether Helmut Marko is wrong about Mercedes or he is absolutely correct about Ferrari. In the pre-season test, Ferrari remained the second best after Red Bull in order to complete the laps fastest. Mercedes remained a low performer there, shattering fans’ hope for a strong comeback. The W14 is indeed a strong car but not the strongest on the grid.
