After the 2025 F1 pre-season tests in Bahrain, Helmut Marko shared his verdict on the competitive hierarchy. According to him, Red Bull is momentarily stepping out of the title fight due to a start to the season that has fallen short of expectations, considering their planned program. With just over a week until the Australian Grand Prix, the track will soon provide the first real answers.
In Bahrain, Red Bull did not make the most of the three available days. The team completed fewer laps than expected and encountered several issues with the car. In the limited runs they completed, the RB21 appeared at times nervous and at times more competitive, especially in the hands of Max Verstappen. The four-time world champion showed signs of frustration due to the car’s behavior on certain parts of the track.
Helmut Marko’s favorites
Helmut Marko’s assessment of the F1 tests aligns with those of other experts. While one team seems to have a slight edge, the competition this season is expected to be extremely close, and only the races will determine the ultimate winner.
“I believe there will be a three- or four-way battle between McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull. Looking at the results, McLaren is slightly ahead, both in long runs and single-lap pace. The RB21 has made progress, but for now, they are still clearly the favorites.”
“On Friday, the final day, in race simulations, I think we were about two to three tenths per lap behind. McLaren’s tire wear was significantly better compared to what our data showed.” – he pointed out.
“It would be nice if all the adjustments and innovations had worked as expected. At least the car is predictable and responds correctly to inputs—it’s not as random as last year. Some of the new parts worked, others didn’t. This means there is still room for development and improvement with what we have available now.” – Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko concluded, with less then ten days until the first round of the 2025 Formula 1 championship.
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