Red Bull’s chances of winning the title against McLaren this year have been a cause for concern, according to Helmut Marko. The team, based in Milton Keynes, has seen a significant decline in performance since the beginning of the season. They missed out on first place twice, with collisions during the Austrian GP and most recently in Budapest. These incidents resulted in a significant loss of points, which McLaren was able to capitalize on. As a result, McLaren is now close to catching up to Red Bull in both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ standings. Marko revealed that this is the team’s biggest problem in their fight for the title against McLaren.
Dr. Helmut Marko, an advisor for Red Bull, expressed that although Max Verstappen’s lead of three wins is good, it is not very reassuring. He emphasized the need for the team to perform consistently and regain their ability to win races on their own. Marko pointed out that defending the drivers’ title will be easier than defending the constructors’ title. This is because Verstappen is currently able to perform well and defend his driver’s title on his own. However, Sergio Perez is falling behind in scoring points, which is crucial for defending the Constructors’ championship.
Marko further explained that McLaren continues to score points with both of their drivers, while Red Bull has been struggling to score even a few points with Sergio Perez. Marko noted that Perez’s performance has not shown any improvement, as he recently crashed during the Hungarian GP Q1. Perez’s performance in the last six races has remained the same, putting Red Bull in a precarious position.
Highlighting Perez’s performance during the Hungarian GP, Marko mentioned that he performed well during Friday’s practice, staying just behind Verstappen and having the best long runs among all the drivers. However, as the day progressed, Perez made a silly mistake during Q1, resulting in him starting from the 16th position. Despite this setback, Perez had a strong race and managed to finish in seventh place. However, this was not enough to defend their position in the Constructors’ title.
Marko explained that Perez’s performance has been unpredictable, with ups and downs. There are days when he performs exceptionally well, showcasing great skills and speed. However, there are also times when he makes costly mistakes that result in the team losing valuable points. Marko expressed frustration over this inconsistency, as it is a significant issue for the team. They need Perez to deliver strong and consistent results in order to effectively compete against other teams.
In order to improve the team’s performance, Marko believes that both drivers need to perform at their best. This is especially crucial in defending the title against McLaren, who currently appears to be faster than Red Bull. Fans are hoping for a solid race from Sergio Perez before the summer break.
