Helmut Marko, a consultant for Red Bull, suggests that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the McLaren drivers, might be experiencing added stress due to Max Verstappen’s presence in the 2025 Formula 1 title chase.
Verstappen has significantly reduced the gap, now trailing championship leader Piastri by 55 points and Norris by 33 points, after the McLaren teammates collided during the sprint race in Austin. This incident led to both drivers retiring immediately, while Verstappen secured eight points with a victory.
With Verstappen and Red Bull demonstrating competitiveness across various circuits, and the McLaren duo encountering difficulties in scoring points as consistently as earlier in the season, along with a series of on-track incidents, Marko expresses optimism about the intensifying competition.
“Our goal is to achieve victories, so merely securing eight or three points isn’t sufficient. However, the upcoming races promise excitement, with the initial corner being crucial, and Max displaying effortless driving,” Marko conveyed to Autosport following the Austin sprint. “It’s evident that we have something at stake, but the pressure isn’t on our side, which should serve as an advantage.”
When questioned about whether signs of nervousness are emerging within the McLaren team, he responded: “Indeed, it’s noticeable, especially during qualifying, where Piastri is prone to errors. And yes, that’s a positive development…”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
However, Marko refrained from attributing blame to Piastri for the initial Turn 1 contact involving Norris and Nico Hulkenberg, nor did he single out the German Sauber driver, contrary to McLaren’s Zak Brown. He posited that Fernando Alonso’s maneuver, creating a three-wide situation at the apex, significantly contributed to what he characterized as a racing incident.
“In my view, Alonso played a more pivotal role in initiating the incident, leading to a chain reaction,” he explained. “Given that it’s the first corner, drivers are naturally inclined to venture relatively wide. I consider it a racing accident, and I believe the two McLaren drivers are blameless on this occasion.”
The early exit of both McLaren drivers implies that neither the McLaren team nor Red Bull possesses definitive insights into their respective race pace. Verstappen asserted that Norris likely possessed superior speed, citing significant rear tire degradation and handling problems with his own car.
Leading up to the grand prix qualifying, teams are granted the flexibility to implement comprehensive set-up adjustments, which will be maintained throughout the remainder of the weekend, affording Red Bull an opportunity to refine its race configuration.
“The competition is anticipated to be closely contested once again,” Marko predicted regarding qualifying. “I maintain my belief that Lando exhibited the greatest speed, and only Max, through an exceptional lap, managed to overtake him. Now, we’ll observe the extent to which he has influenced the confidence of the McLaren drivers.”
“Max’s performance continues to improve consistently, so I believe securing a front-row start is a realistic objective for us.”
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– The Autosport.com Team
