Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko didn’t miss the chance to rub salt in the wound after the chaotic Las Vegas Grand Prix, a weekend in which Max Verstappen put the championship back into question after Lando Norris seemed to have it in his hands. Through technical analysis, subtle digs, and understated barbs, the Red Bull super advisor smiled as he observed McLaren’s mistake reopen the title fight. But from Woking, it’s clear: that laughter won’t last long.
Marko highlights McLaren’s radio message
Marko recounted with relish a key moment in the race when a radio message from McLaren instructed “Attack Max.” A call meant to push Lando Norris to strike, it triggered an immediate response from the Dutch champion: a clean, fast lap delivered with the ease of a driver who feels he controls the entire race. For Marko, it was the definitive sign of Red Bull’s command over the race and Verstappen’s total understanding with his team.
He couldn’t hide his smile: “The funniest thing was McLaren’s message. They tell him to attack Max, and he responds with a series of fast laps just to set things straight.” This perfectly illustrates what the RB21 is: an extremely high-performing car that, despite some repetitive media narratives, remains formidable on track.
The race decided at the first corner
For the Austrian manager, the Nevada GP was essentially decided at Turn 1. Norris had a good start, even momentarily blocking Max Verstappen, but the Dutchman pressed until forcing the Englishman into a braking mistake. A tiny slip and Red Bull found open track, while Norris still had to clear George Russell’s Mercedes. From that moment on, Max Verstappen’s job was pure management: controlling pace, tyres, and lap times with everything under control.
Even when McLaren asked Norris, just a few laps from the finish, to push and close on the Red Bull, the three-time world champion simply increased the pace at will. According to Marko, it was the ultimate demonstration of Max’s long-run superiority.
Inside Red Bull: Verstappen had more speed than shown
Laurent Mekies confirmed the same reading from within the team: Verstappen had “even more speed than shown,” and whenever McLaren increased the pressure, Max responded effortlessly. LaurentMekies described it as a “masterclass,” especially considering the weekend preparations had been completely disrupted by unexpected events in practice.
McLaren’s double disqualification reshapes the championship
The double McLaren disqualification, however, dramatically changed the championship picture. The gap to Oscar Piastri disappeared, while the deficit to Lando Norris is now just 24 points with two races and 58 points still available. This turns Max from a distant chaser into a serious contender, especially with Red Bull regaining unexpected technical and operational balance late in the season.
Helmut Marko’s smile is now radiant. But at Woking, they know that without the penalty that reversed the standings, the narrative would have been very different. McLaren believes they still have the most complete car on the grid, confident that in standard technical and regulatory conditions, they will dictate the pace in the final two races.
Woking’s mindset: challenge, not frustration
In the orange pit lane, the mood is not frustration but challenge. The feeling is strong that Marko’s joke is only a temporary chapter and that the team has all the tools to change the expression of the Milton Keynes advisor as early as the next weekend. The championship has reopened, undeniably. But for McLaren, the story is far from over—it’s just beginning.
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