Formula 1 is finally back on track this weekend, not for a test session but for real competition, with the first race of the season in Australia. As Max Verstappen himself has stated, Red Bull arrives with more doubts than certainties, apart from the expectation that they will not immediately be in the fight for victory, as McLaren appears to have started the season on the right foot as the benchmark.
Speaking about the tests, Helmut Marko painted a similar picture to that of the Dutchman, emphasizing that the team followed a reverse trajectory rather than an improving one. On the first day, the team found the answers it was looking for, but in the following two days, incorrect setups and updates that did not work as expected—forcing the car into a “hybrid” solution—added uncertainty.
However, after the tests, Red Bull carried out its usual data analysis in the simulator, and the engineers believe they have found some answers to the issues encountered in Bahrain. The main problem, however, is that solutions need to be found on track rather than afterward, as this was one of the challenges that also hindered the Milton Keynes team in 2024.
“The goal was to widen the operating window, giving the drivers more confidence in the car’s behavior to make it more predictable. That was the aim. Looking at the test sessions, we have made some progress in this direction, but it is not yet perfect. However, these tests should not necessarily be considered definitive for the season,” Helmut Marko told ServusTV, the Red Bull-affiliated broadcaster.
“McLaren was clearly dominant in testing. On a single lap, they did not reveal their full potential. They went out, set the best time in Sector 1, did the same in Sector 2, and then immediately returned to the pits. It is clear they were trying to mask their true performance.”
“But in long runs, the comparison depends on the amount of fuel used. Their drivers were consistently half a second to a full second faster, without high top speeds. This suggests they were not running at full engine power. If we see the same results in Australia, then it is clear that McLaren will finish first and second.” – the Red Bull advisor pointed out.
Helmut Marko also focused on another key element: the Max factor, which he believes is Red Bull’s greatest asset, especially at such a critical moment. “Everything has been analyzed. Max was in the simulator and was very satisfied because it seems we have found the right direction. But in Australia, the conditions will be completely different.”
“There will be 35-degree temperatures, according to the weather forecast. It’s a street circuit. And then there is the Max factor. This factor comes into play in almost every phase and can make the impossible possible.”
Helmut Marko also discussed the team’s reorganization after Adrian Newey’s departure, noting that he had not been actively involved full-time in car development for some time. A few weeks ago, in an interview, Red Bull’s former designer—now at Aston Martin—explained that the technical group had lacked experience in developing the car, which was one of the reasons why the RB21 did not deliver the expected results.
However, Helmut Marko has confidence in the group led by Pierre Wache and has built a broader structure around him than in the past: “In recent years, Adrian Newey was not working full-time; he was only in the factory on certain days. As a result, we built a broader management structure beneath him, now led by Pierre Waché, which includes younger engineers and aerodynamicists. It is no longer about a single person but a team that needs time. But I am confident that we will still produce a high-level car this year.”
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