Red Bull's Bahrain Gp: What Went Wrong?

Red Bull's 2022 F1 season got off to a disastrous start at the Bahrain Grand Prix, with both drivers, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, retiring from the race due to suspected fuel pump issues. With just a few laps remaining, Verstappen suffered steering issues and power failure, and was forced to retire from second place. Perez looked set to secure third place for the team, but spun out on the final lap, handing Red Bull a double retirement and leaving them with zero points from the race.

Max Verstappen's car suffered steering issues and power failure

Max Verstappen's car suffered a series of issues during the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix, which ultimately led to his retirement from the race. The steering problems were the most significant, with Verstappen describing it as "almost impossible to steer". The issue seemed to be speed-related, with Verstappen stating that "the faster I was going, there was a delay". This made it extremely challenging for him to defend his position, especially during restarts.

The steering issue was likely caused by a tweaked track rod when the car was dropped during a pit stop. This issue, separate from the power failure, made it difficult for Verstappen to maintain control of the car, affecting his performance and ability to compete.

In addition to the steering problems, Verstappen's car also experienced a power failure towards the end of the race. This issue appeared to be related to the fuel system, with initial suspicions pointing towards a fuel pump problem. The car lost power, and Verstappen was forced to retire and return to the pits.

Verstappen's teammate, Sergio Perez, experienced similar issues, suffering a total engine shutdown while defending his position from Lewis Hamilton. This double retirement was a significant blow to Red Bull, leaving them with zero points from the race and a lot of questions to answer.

Sergio Perez's car suffered a total engine shutdown

Perez's retirement came just moments after his teammate Max Verstappen was forced to retire due to suspected fuel pump issues. Both Red Bull cars appeared to suffer the same fate, with Perez losing power and the engine cutting out, leading to a total shutdown.

In the moments leading up to the incident, Perez was defending his position from Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, who went on to claim a surprise podium finish. Perez noted that he could feel he was losing power a couple of laps before the end and that the team was aware of the issue that had impacted Verstappen. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to prevent the engine failure.

The specific cause of the engine shutdown was suspected to be related to the fuel system, with Red Bull team boss Christian Horner stating that the failures on both cars seemed to be connected. It was speculated that the new E10-rated fuel, which contains 10% eco biofuel, may have contributed to the issue by causing the fuel supply system to fail in the later stages of the race.

The double retirement was a significant blow for Red Bull, who had looked set for a strong points haul in the season-opening race. The team vowed to investigate the issue and address any underlying problems to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Red Bull scored zero points in the opening weekend

Red Bull's 2022 Formula 1 season debut ended in disaster, with both of their drivers, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, retiring from the race due to fuel pump issues. The team scored zero points in the opening weekend, despite looking set for a large haul.

Verstappen, the reigning champion, had been battling for first place with Charles Leclerc for much of the race. However, with three laps remaining, he began experiencing steering and power unit issues, causing him to lose positions and eventually retire from the race.

Perez, Verstappen's teammate, looked set to secure third place for Red Bull. However, on the final lap, he spun out at turn one, retiring from the race and capping off a miserable day for the team.

The issues that led to the double retirement were suspected to be related to the fuel system, with Red Bull team boss Christian Horner stating that the failures on both cars appeared similar. The new E10-rated fuel, which contains 10% eco biofuel, may have contributed to the issue, as it can cause the fuel supply system to fail in the later stages of the race.

The unexpected retirement of both Red Bull drivers resulted in a surprise podium for Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, who finished third behind Ferrari's Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Verstappen expressed his frustration at the reliability issues, stating that at the level of technical information provided to teams, such problems "shouldn't happen." The disappointing start to the season left Red Bull with zero points, despite having a competitive car.

Red Bull suspected fuel pump issues were to blame

Red Bull's 2022 Formula 1 season opener in Bahrain was marred by a double retirement, with both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez suffering what appeared to be the same issue—a suspected fuel pump problem. With just three laps remaining, Verstappen's car experienced a loss of power, forcing him to retire from the race. His teammate, Perez, seemed to suffer a similar fate on the final lap, spinning out at Turn 1.

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner confirmed that the issues appeared similar, stating, "It looks like a similar issue on both cars. We don't know exactly what it is yet, whether it's a lift pump, whether it's a collector, or something along those lines, but we've got to get into it and understand exactly what caused it."

Verstappen, the reigning world champion, expressed his frustration, acknowledging that while problems and retirements can happen, at this level, and with the amount of information available, such issues "shouldn't happen." The double retirement meant Red Bull left Bahrain with zero points, a disappointing start to the season for the team.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko confirmed the cause of the issue, stating that both cars suffered from a lack of fuel supply to the engine, resulting in the unexpected retirements. This issue was potentially exacerbated by the new E10-rated fuel, which can get hot during the latter stages of the race, possibly causing a failure in the fuel supply system.

The team vowed to investigate the issue and fix any problems to avoid similar incidents in future races.

The steering issue may have been caused by the jack during a pit stop

Red Bull's 2022 Formula 1 season debut was marred by a series of issues that led to a disappointing finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The team, which had looked strong in the opening stages of the race, suffered a "brutal" double retirement due to technical faults. Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, and his teammate Sergio Perez, both experienced unexpected power loss and steering problems, resulting in their retirement from the race.

Verstappen, who was battling for second place, encountered steering issues on his Red Bull RB18, making it challenging to defend his position during a restart. He described the issue as a "completely locked" steering wheel, making it "almost impossible to steer." The problem became more pronounced as his speed increased, causing a delay in responsiveness when turning right.

While the exact cause of the steering issue is still under investigation, there is speculation that it may have been caused by the jack during one of Verstappen's pit stops. Red Bull Racing advisor, Helmut Marko, suggested that the issue could be traced back to the pit stop, where the car was lowered using a jack. This theory is supported by the fact that Verstappen's car exhibited a "tweaked track rod," according to Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner.

The steering issue was just one of several problems that plagued the Red Bull team during the Bahrain Grand Prix. Both Verstappen and Perez ultimately had to retire from the race due to suspected fuel pump issues, causing them to score zero points for the opening race of the season. The team is determined to understand the root causes of these issues to prevent similar incidents in future races.

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