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Helmut Marko, the key figure at Red Bull, has serious plans regarding the future. Frustrated by the current events and the decline of his team, the experienced figure emphasizes that Max Verstappen still has a significant advantage over others. However, the 81-year-old believes that this advantage could evaporate if things continue as they have.
The Austrian team has been in crisis for several races, and things could get serious if they don’t make changes soon. There is a palpable sense of tension and frustration among the main people of the team, but they remain optimistic, believing that a lot can still change.
“Despite our non-performance, Max is still 62 points ahead,” Marko told OE24, as quoted by Crash.
“But this lead can quickly shrink if we continue like this.”
Red Bull fans are well aware of Max Verstappen's qualities and strengths. The driver who has been dominant on F1 tracks for several years is now far from that position. The Dutchman is not used to being in this kind of role, at least not in recent years. Marko believes that Verstappen needs a strong car to achieve great things. If Max doesn't have the car he needs, Marko thinks any outcome is possible.
“If we don't give him a drivable car and deliver a performance like that a few more times, then anything is possible.”- he continued.
Marko discussed Red Bull's response to a lackluster Italian Grand Prix. He mentioned that the team plans to conduct a tire test with Liam Lawson at Monza, while simultaneously evaluating where adjustments are necessary. Marko highlighted the need to identify where the team may have made errors in their development process. He added that they have already gathered some important insights and now need to swiftly implement the necessary technical changes to restore the car's proper balance.
Helmut Marko on Austin race
Norris is 62 points behind the Dutchman, but if Max Verstappen continues to perform the same way in Azerbaijan, that lead will further diminish, deepening the crisis within the team. Marko, however, believes that the next two races are not as crucial as the one in Austin. He views the Austin race as a potential turning point where changes could occur.
“The next two races on the street circuits in Baku and Singapore are of little significance in this regard,” he said.
“Austin will show whether we can achieve the turnaround.”
Sergio Perez
One of the drivers frequently discussed these days is Sergio Perez, who is in an even deeper crisis than his teammate. However, the focus is less on him compared to Max, who is fighting for the championship. Despite this, Perez remains a major media topic, with constant speculation about the possibility of him leaving Red Bull. Helmut Marko has preferred not to comment extensively on Perez, considering him simply slower compared to the Dutchman.
“Checo is not bad, he is simply slower. But of course, the priority is for Max to win the drivers' world championship,” Marko said.
The last race did not end well for Perez, who was unable to execute a two-stop strategy. He expressed his disappointment afterward, STRESSING that he had anticipated difficulties but not to this extent. Perez stated that the car was slow and suffered from high tire degradation, particularly on the medium compound.
He mentioned that he might have slightly compromised his race to keep George Russell behind, but this strategy proved beneficial. By holding Russell at bay for a while, Perez's efforts helped the team, as Russell came very close to Max Verstappen, impacting the points secured by the team.
The Mexican driver is once again facing problems, just as he has in recent races. His crisis is deepening, which could potentially cost him his place on the team by the end of the season, or even sooner. Perez is unhappy that his teammate, Max Verstappen, is also encountering issues. Many of the problems seem to lie within the team, and it is clear that the leaders of the Austrian team will need to address them.
“I really feel like I’m in the same boat as I’ve been in for the last eight, 10 races but now all of a sudden Max has come into similar issues so yeah, a little bit of a confusion there but it is clear in the data where the problem is,” Perez said.
It is crucial to identify what is preventing them from making that next step, a step that could potentially seal this season and confirm Red Bull's victory. The Austrian team aims to repeat the successful scenarios of previous seasons, when Max Verstappen was on top, far ahead of the competition. It will be interesting to see if a similar outcome can be achieved this time around.
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