Helmut Marko considers Max Verstappen’s contract extension with Red Bull a smart choice. In an interview with the Austrian OE24, the 83-year-old former Red Bull advisor says he agrees with the choice of the four-time world champion, but that Red Bull is still not competitive enough.
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“I already heard about the contract extension before it came out in the media,” says Marko. “I have always said that this is the smartest thing for him, but then Red Bull will have to quickly give him a winning car.”
Engine and chassis
Marko doesn’t understand the conclusion of the ADUO that the Ford engine is seen as the best engine on the grid. “The regulations that determine this are outdated and should be changed immediately. A power unit consists of more than just an internal combustion engine. You also have an electric motor, software, and a battery. It is clear that Red Bull is not the best at this.”
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The chassis also turns out not to be good enough this year to allow the car to compete for wins. “They didn’t start badly this year, but if you then go the wrong way twice with updates, it becomes very difficult to recover from that with regard to the cost cap. However, if there is one team that can fight its way back into a world championship, it is Red Bull, they already proved that last year.”
Perspective
Marko expects that Red Bull will not compete for the win in Monza. “Monza comes way too soon. At Zandvoort we were four to five tenths behind. That is just an eternity. Winning is going to be extremely difficult. Red Bull will have the best chance of a win in Austin, Las Vegas, or Mexico.”
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