Helmut Marko, special advisor to Red Bull, is under no illusion that the constructors' title is lost.
Red Bull started the 2024 season at the same pace as the previous one. In fact, the Austrian team, through Max Verstappen, had won seven victories in the first ten Grands Prix of the season. At this point in the season, Red Bull had a 60-point lead in the Constructors' Championship over Ferrari and 93 over McLaren.
But everything turned around from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Indeed, Oscar Piastri's victory on the streets of the city of Baku allowed McLaren to take the lead in the standings. At the finish of the Mexican Grand Prix, Red Bull even saw Ferrari pass in front of it, relegating the Austrian team to third place in the standings.
As of today, Red Bull is 54 points behind McLaren and 29 behind Scuderia Ferrari. With four race weekends remaining before the end of the season and in view of the performances of the RB20 and especially Sergio Pérez, it now seems certain that Red Bull will not be able to retain its title as World Champion team.
“We lost the constructors’ title”Marko told OE24. “Ferrari, in its current form, is beyond our reach and can even catch up with McLaren.”
Read also: Helmut Marko scratches Tsunoda and the Pérez family after qualifying
Overtaking to expect at Interlagos?
The Austrian, however, is more optimistic about Max Verstappen's chances of winning the drivers' title. The Batavian currently has a lead of 47 units over Lando Norris, his first pursuer in the championship. However, this points gap could be reduced at the finish of the Brazilian Grand Prix since Max Verstappen will start from afar on the starting grid on Sunday, the fault of an engine penalty.
“I’m not very relaxed about it”Marko said. “We will need a new engine and will therefore receive an engine penalty [de cinq places pour un nouveau moteur à combustion interne]. The good thing is we will have a little more power and hopefully more speed. It is also possible to do good overtaking in Brazil.”
Also read: Is Lando Norris too nice to Max Verstappen?
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