As the 2025 Formula 1 season revs up for its commencement with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, it’s all eyes on the McLaren team. However, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, believes the true wildcard lies not in a team, but a driver – Max Verstappen.
The Bahrain International Circuit served as the stage for pre-season testing in late February, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the potential unfolding of the forthcoming season. Although uncertainty still lingers around fuel loads and engine modes, consensus within the F1 fraternity places McLaren at the pole position, with Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari trailing closely.
During a three-day testing period, devoid of glory laps, McLaren’s dominance in race simulations was unmistakable. The tyre wear of their MCL39 also proved superior to their competitors, prompting Marko to acknowledge McLaren’s edge heading into the season.
“The present favourite is unmistakably McLaren,” Marko admitted in an interview with sport.de. He further speculated about the impending season, predicting a hot contest among McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, and his team, Red Bull. However, he conceded that McLaren seemed to have an early lead in both short and long runs.
Pinpointing the exact extent of McLaren’s advantage remains challenging, with Marko estimating it could potentially be as much as three-tenths of a second in race trim. He attributed the lack of precision to the unusual weather conditions during the test, such as cold temperatures, strong winds, and even rain.
Nevertheless, Marko noted a significant advantage in Red Bull’s favour, or more accurately, in Max Verstappen’s favour. McLaren’s team comprises Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, both vying for the World title. However, Red Bull’s hopes rest squarely on Verstappen’s shoulders.
Marko believes Norris outperformed Piastri in the Bahrain test, but considers the latter equally strong and expects the internal competition at McLaren to potentially benefit Red Bull. He emphasized Verstappen’s clear status as Red Bull’s premier driver and expects Piastri to resist being relegated to a second position at McLaren.
While McLaren’s car seems well-equipped to handle various tyres and temperatures, Red Bull’s RB21 hasn’t demonstrated the same adaptability. Marko expressed a desire for their car’s technical adaptations and innovations to have been more effective. However, he highlighted its improved predictability and responsiveness to technical aspects when compared to the previous season.
Despite the RB21’s shortcomings, Red Bull’s secret weapon – Max Verstappen – could still tip the scales. Marko confidently referred to Verstappen as their ‘joker,’ confident his exceptional driving skills will shine, even if the car falls short of expectations.
As the engines roar to life and the rubber hits the asphalt in Melbourne, the Formula 1 world will watch with bated breath to see if McLaren’s early promise materializes into victory, or if Red Bull’s wildcard, Max Verstappen, will steal the show.
