Helmut Marko says reliability isn't the only problem currently facing Red Bull, with the team also struggling with the weight of its RB18 and suffering a performance deficit relative to Ferrari.
Both Red Bull drivers retired from F1's opening round in Bahrain due to a fuel pump issue, and while Max Verstappen won in Saudi Arabia, F1's reigning world champion failed to see the checkered flag again in Australia, with a suspected fuel issue sidelining the Dutchman while he was running second behind future winner Charles Leclerc.
In Melbourne, Verstappen justifiably expressed his frustration over his retirement, calling Red Bull's reliability issues "unacceptable" and later adding that he didn't see a "clear fix" for the problem.
"We'll try and forget today and wake up tomorrow and focus again on the coming races," said Verstappen after last Sunday's race.
"But also, it doesn't look like there's a clear fix. So we need to work hard to try and improve our reliability."
But Red Bull's lack of reliability is just one of several problems complicating the early part of the Milton Keynes-based outfit's season.
"There are two or maybe three different things at play," Marko told Servus TV.
"Firstly, the reliability problems, which we hardly had last year. But the deficit to Ferrari was also alarming today.
"They just controlled the pace, if Max upped the pace, Leclerc could react easily.
"We were negatively surprised by the speed of Ferrari. They had almost no graining and we already had some after a few laps.
"Ferrari can find a good balance with their car more easily."
Finally, Marko pointed to the RB18's excess weight as a third factor currently impacting its car's performance.
"We are clearly heavier than the Ferrari,” Marko said. “I think we have a weight handicap of about 10 kilograms.
"Converted to lap time, that equates to about three tenths per lap."
©RedBull
Unfortunately, reducing the weight of Red Bull's RB18 can only be achieved through upgrades, which brings the team's budget constraints into play as well as additional reliability risks.
"Lowering the weight is expensive," admitted Marko. To start with, it's a financial issue and secondly it is also related to reliability. So it is a difficult split due to the budget cap.
"We are facing difficult times."
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