“This is a very serious matter. At the moment we do not know in what time
frame it will be possible to catch up, or if it is possible at all.”
Marko, who has previously warned the team’s engine supplier Renault that they
“need to get a grip”, said Red Bull were working “day and night” with the
French manufacturer ahead of the first race.
Highlighting some of the troubles the team are facing with the new, vastly
more complicated hybrid engines, Marko added: “We are struggling with
turbo lag.
“You step on the gas, but the power does not arrive. It comes all of a
sudden, the wheels spin, the car slides and you lose speed.
“We are working with Renault on the test benches day and night to improve
the situation for Melbourne.”
On pre-season form, Vettel’s chances of a fifth consecutive world championship
appear to be slim, as on one day of the final test in Bahrain he did not
manage to complete a single lap. Only four other drivers – one of whom was
his team-mate Ricciardo – finished below the 26-year-old in the mileage
charts across three pre-season tests.
“First of all, just getting to the finish would be a success”, Vettel said.
“If half the drivers fail to finish, then maybe we could take a few
points.”
On Sunday in Bahrain, Vettel also admitted that in addition to Red Bull’s
reliability problems the team are not quick enough either.
“Yeah, we are; it’s not a secret,” Vettel said when he was asked if
he was concerned about Red Bull’s lap times.
“We cannot do the times that the guys at the top are doing for a couple
of reasons, but at the moment we have bigger problems to solve than just the
pace.”