Helmut Marko was shocked by the level of Red Bull Racing on the first day of the race weekend in Las Vegas. Although the result in the second free practice gave a distorted picture, the 81-year-old is very concerned about the level of his team. Marko no longer sees any chance of the constructors’ title, or even second place, and the reason for that is clear: Sergio Pérez.
Max Verstappen finished the day seventeenth, two places better than Sergio Pérez. However, both Red Bull Racing drivers drove their fastest time on the medium tires after a red flag interrupted the session. After that red flag, the teams chose to focus on the race simulations. “We still have a lot of work to do, especially if we want to be at the front,” says Marko in conversation with his compatriots from ORF On.
‘Too many downforce‘
Even if the Red Bulls had been able to run on the soft tires, the other three top teams would have remained far out of reach. This was evident from the first two sectors of Verstappen’s lap, who had already conceded almost eight-tenths. ‘We were unable to set a time with the soft tyres, simply because we no longer had the time for that.’ The Austrian adds that Red Bull was ‘reasonably in front’ at one point. ‘We had too much after that downforce for the rear tires, and as a result we were actually no longer able to make any progress’, Marko comes with a strange conclusion.
‘Once we push one or two laps, we can get that speed into the long runs hold on tight,” continues the team advisor, who knows that Red Bull is mainly unable to get the temperature into the tires. Later in the racing stint, however, things went downhill again. ‘Then tire wear starts to play a role. So we have to find more balance in the car, without sacrificing anything in terms of top speed.’
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Red Bull needs less rear wing according to Marko.
Red Bull was clearly the fourth team in Las Vegas, behind Ferrari and McLaren, but also clearly behind the fast Mercedes. ‘We have seen it many times this year at Mercedes that they can suddenly be very strong out of nowhere and then be able to win. But first let’s see how qualifying goes. If the asphalt offers more grip, the proportions can change again,” says Marko, who realizes that a double victory for Mercedes is not that unfavorable for his team.
No chance for the title
Now that Verstappen is almost assured of his fourth world title, attention also shifts to the constructors’ title. However, Marko thinks that this will be a hopeless story. “With our performance today, we have no chance at all of second place, let alone first place,” is the harsh conclusion. Red Bull is thirteen points behind Ferrari and 49 points behind McLaren.
Marko also knows where Red Bull left it behind. “However, that has been clear for a while, because if you compare Sergio Pérez’s points with Max’s points, you know what it is about,” he says firmly. Pérez is 242 points behind Verstappen. If the Mexican had been ‘only’ 193 points behind Verstappen, Red Bull would still have been the leader in the championship. “If Max wins the world title, it will be easier for us to accept the loss of the constructors’ title.”
Red Bull Racing: The Las Vegas Debacle
Helmut Marko was shocked – and if you ever saw his face when he watched Sergio Pérez drive, you’d understand why. On the first day of race weekend in Las Vegas, the team’s performance seemed to clash with the glitzy lights of the Strip. I mean, if you expected a show worthy of Vegas, Marko seems to believe he just got a bad magic trick instead.
The second free practice didn’t help matters much – it was like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, only to find it was a particularly lazy tortoise. Seventeen places behind your teammate? That’s not just getting shown up; that’s being left behind at the buffet while he’s off winning the food-eating contest. And who does poor Sergio Pérez think he is — the ghost of race weekends past?
‘Too many downforce‘
All right, but let’s break it down: even if Red Bulls could have had soft tires, the other teams were ahead – way ahead. I mean, if Verstappen conceded almost eight-tenths after the red flag, you know you’re not just in the doghouse, you’re probably uninvited to the dog park. “We had too much downforce for the rear tires,” Marko says, which honestly sounds a bit like asking why you can’t fit into clothes a size too small. Life’s tough, Helmut, but you can’t just sew on more fabric and pray for a miracle!
It’s true, once you start pushing, it’s like watching your grandma try to speedwalk. You think she might take off, but really she’s just slowly wheezing towards the finish line while taking breaks for a cup of tea. Tire temperature becomes an issue, and who knew tires were divas too?
But seriously, this isn’t the performance we expected from Red Bull. Now ranked clear as the fourth team in Las Vegas, they’re behind Ferrari and McLaren — and I’d throw Mercedes into that mix, too; they’re like an ex showing up to the party looking far too good. Just like that, Marko knows a double victory for them isn’t exactly a bad deal. Charlie, watch out, your ex is looking better than ever!
No chance for the title
So here’s the kicker: with Verstappen nearly assured of his fourth world title, all attention shifts to the constructors’ title. Marko, sounding like the party pooper at 5 PM happy hour, says they have “no chance at all of second, let alone first.” Phew! I guess saving face doesn’t include dropping your chin to your chest in shame.
And poor Pérez – he’s like that guy at a wedding who accidentally catches the bouquet. “If only he were just 193 points behind Verstappen, we’d still be leading the championship,” Marko laments. Sorry, Sergio! It’s a hard knock life, isn’t it? Even if you do get a trophy for trying. But hey, at least if Max wins his title, it’ll soften the blow a bit – like being told you’re still a great uncle after showing up to your niece’s wedding dressed as Batman.
So folks, as the Las Vegas lights twinkle in the rearview mirror, let’s take a laugh, a sigh, and brace ourselves for whatever rollercoaster Red Bull decides to throw our way next. Because if there’s one thing to be certain about in this sport, it’s that the drama is never far behind—like an awkward uncle at a family gathering.
Helmut Marko expressed his astonishment at the surprisingly underwhelming performance level of Red Bull Racing on the opening day of the highly anticipated race weekend in Las Vegas. Despite the outcome of the second free practice session presenting a skewed perspective, the 81-year-old team advisor harbors serious concerns regarding his team’s competitiveness. Marko has come to the sobering realization that they have no viable chance of clinching the constructors’ title, or even securing a commendable second position, a situation he attributes primarily to the struggles faced by Sergio Pérez.
Max Verstappen concluded the day in a disappointing seventeenth place, finishing just two positions ahead of his teammate Sergio Pérez. Notably, both Red Bull racers managed to achieve their fastest laps on medium tires following a red flag that halted the session. After the disruption, various teams, including Red Bull, opted to concentrate on race simulations rather than outright speed. “We still have a significant amount of work ahead of us, particularly if we aspire to compete at the front,” stated Marko during a candid discussion with his compatriots from ORF On.
‘Too many downforce‘
Even if the Red Bull cars had successfully run on soft tires, they would still have found themselves far behind the top three rival teams. This uncomfortable reality was starkly illustrated by how Verstappen’s initial lap was 8 tenths behind the leaders by the time he reached the second sector. Marko lamented, ‘We could not establish a time on the soft tires simply because we were running out of time.’ He added that there was a moment when Red Bull appeared to be ‘reasonably in front,’ but ultimately concluded that an excess of rear downforce severely hindered their ability to progress on the track.
‘Once we push for one or two laps, we believe we can maintain speed during the long runs; however, we need to work hard,” Marko elaborated, acknowledging Red Bull’s ongoing difficulties in heating their tires to the necessary temperatures. Regrettably, as the racing stint continued, performance declined once more, further compounded by tire wear becoming a critical factor. “We must strike a better balance within the car without losing any top speed capability,” he insisted.
Red Bull was clearly the fourth fastest team in Las Vegas, trailing behind both Ferrari and McLaren and noticeably behind the rapid Mercedes outfit. ‘Historically, we’ve seen Mercedes come out strong seemingly out of nowhere and take wins. However, let’s see how qualifying turns out; improved grip on the asphalt could alter the dynamics once again,” Marko conceded, acknowledging that a potential double victory for Mercedes might not necessarily be detrimental for Red Bull.
No chance for the title
With Verstappen nearly securing his fourth world championship title, the focus naturally shifts towards the constructors’ title. However, Marko’s tone shifted to one of resignation as he assessed their current standing. “With our performance today, we have no chance at all of second place, let alone first,” he declared grimly, noting that Red Bull finds itself 13 points adrift of Ferrari and a staggering 49 points behind McLaren.
Marko is acutely aware of where Red Bull has faltered in this contest. “This has been apparent for some time now; a comparison between Sergio Pérez’s accrued points and those of Max Verstappen tells the whole story,” he stated firmly. Pérez currently trails Verstappen by 242 points, and Marko indicated that if Pérez had been just 193 points behind, Red Bull would still be leading the championship standings. “If Max clinches the world title, it would certainly make it easier for us to reconcile the loss of the constructors’ title.”
How does the current point gap between Red Bull and their competitors affect their chances of contending for the constructors’ title?
Rcedes. Marko recognized that, despite their current challenges, a Mercedes double victory could actually work in Red Bull’s favor in terms of strategy for the constructors’ championship, as it potentially allowed for further redistribution of points among their competitors.
No Chance for the Title
The situation shifts focus toward the constructors’ title race. With Verstappen’s championship virtually secured, Marko’s outlook is decidedly grim regarding their standings, insisting that “there’s no chance at all of second place, let alone first.” Currently, Red Bull is lagging behind Ferrari by thirteen points and finds themselves a staggering forty-nine points adrift of McLaren. This gap has left Marko grappling with the harsh reality, particularly as he compares the point discrepancy between Verstappen and his teammate Pérez.
“Considering Sergio’s situation—being 242 points behind Max—it’s clear where we’ve faltered,” he states, indicating that if Pérez had only been 193 points off Verstappen’s score, Red Bull would still be in contention for the constructors’ title. Marko took a pragmatic approach, indicating that if Verstappen can secure the world title, it would lessen the sting of losing out on the constructors’ championship—the silver lining amid a disappointing showing.
As the events in Las Vegas unfolded under the glimmering lights, Red Bull’s struggles became synonymous with unfulfilled expectations. The hope among fans and team personnel alike is that as they regroup and recalibrate, Red Bull can harness their potential and re-emerge as a formidable force on the grid. But for now, with the trials and tribulations of Las Vegas still fresh, the team faces a crucial period ahead as they navigate the complexities of the season with resilience and determination.
