Red Bull and Max Verstappen impressively returned with a dominant victory at the Formula 1 race in Imola. The turn in the World Cup fight against McLaren? In an exclusive interview with Sport.de, Bullen-Emerenz Helmut Marko is cautious and says when the balance of power really becomes clear.
In addition, the Austrian reveals why Max Verstappen shone as long as long, and estimates the Red Bull chances at the upcoming Grand Prix of Monaco (qualifying on Saturday live at RTL).
Mr. Marko, Was Max Verstappen’s dominant victory at the race in Imola for Red Bull the World Cup turn in the fight against the apparently overpowering McLaren?
We are not sure, Imola was certainly an advantage for us with the many quick curves. But the positive was: after a year of rotating in a circle, we have finally found progress in driving behavior. Max ‘saying,’ I’m happy with the car ‘, we haven’t heard for a long time. The car – not yet on Friday, but on Saturday with the changes to the vote – was absolutely as Max wants. It enables him to get his performance on the track accordingly.
What was the decisive component in the red bull upgrade for the RB21? The new underbody?
It can never be reduced to a part, but it is the sum of the parts and they have to play together. It doesn’t help if the underbody works, but you cannot drive the vehicle height in a corresponding configuration. Many components come together.
Verstappen took his second win of the season. How many have to come together this year so that he has a chance of his fifth World Cup title?
It must be five to six victories and this will be difficult against McLaren, because McLaren has proven that her car works on every route, with every tire type, with every temperature. With us everything has to fit together and work optimally that we have a chance. But I hope that Lando Norris will also begin to win again and that they take away points on McLaren. We have to use that accordingly.
Does his daughter Liliy, who was born two weeks ago, make him even better, even faster?
Lily definitely doesn’t make him slower (smiles). Max makes a satisfied, happy impression. What he really liked was to drive the Nordschleife in a GT-3 car, he really enjoyed that. And that after three rounds he was able to crack the round record – I rarely seen him so radiant. He needs variety and freedom.
What fascinated him about the green hell?
It is certainly more than 100 rounds in the simulator, but then to experience this force, which runs out of this route – 22 kilometers, wonderfully embedded in nature, curve consequences that are nowhere else – that fascinated him as pure racing drivers. Three rounds and already a record – that’s just overwhelming.
Video: Max Verstappens Wild rode through the green hell
Photo: © Imago/Antonin Vincent
Do you think that this will be a goal for him in the future to run and win a race at the Nürburgring?
GT Racing is already his great love, he has his own team. I think that’s a goal, maybe a 24-hour race with his father Jos. I think that would be of emotion and fun for him with a World Cup title.
Formula 1: Second victory in the Triple Header, Red Bull’s nerve would “calm down” clearly “
Can Red Bull take the momentum from Imola and also fight for victory at the Grand Prix of Monaco?
In Monaco we became sixth in the previous year. These road courses have many and high core, something that we have not been able to get under control for a year. Imola is difficult to compare. We have to wait and see how it works in Monte Carlo. In contrast to Imola, we have no quick curves there, but slow, so it depends on the traction.
We have also seen various temperatures, different tire mixtures and route layouts lead to fluctuations in driving behavior, while McLaren did not have to react to these factors, their car was quick everywhere. But that does not only affect us, but Ferrari and Mercedes may be even more than higher.
The Barcelona race (one week after Monaco, i.e. Red.) Is more important for us when the new wing regulations apply: This means that the liability is drastically restricted, then we see the right picture. For us in this triple header, the credo was now damage limitation. With a win we came in quite well, a second win would calm our nerves significantly.
Do you think that the second compulsory stop ordered by the FIA in Monaco brings more excitement in the principality and changes something and the usual procession trip?
It has not yet been said that the column is broken up. In Monaco, the narrow pit lane always harbors a certain risk. For example, if all 20 cars come in with a safety car phase, this can be a challenge. The fact that this makes the race decision – a few other factors have to come together.
The McLaren pilots Oscar Piatri and Lando Norris fight against each other for the driver of the driver. Is that an advantage for Red Bull?
We are fighting both McLaren, so it is not relevant for us who is the faster there at the moment. They alternate. In principle, Lando Norris in Imola was faster. Of course, this is an advantage for us. With us it is very clear: Max is number 1, everything is focused on him, while McLaren has two mostly equally fast drivers. The more they alternate, the better for us.
Helmut Marko: “Tsunoda has to find a compromise”
During our last interview, you confirmed that Max Verstappen, despite his long -term contract, may be able to leave Red Bull by 2028. Does the team have better cards again?
He has a contract, if we put a corresponding victory car, everything is clear. But if we are not technically progressing for a year – and that was the case now … that’s why it was now a step that not only improved the downforce, but also showed itself on the stopwatch. Max is a driver who wants to win and if we don’t make him a victorious package, then it is a consideration for him (to go, i.e. Red.). But at the moment this is not an issue for him: focus on the World Cup and things are going quite well.
Your second cockpit must give you a headache. Why is Yuki tsunoda slower, is this only due to the difficult to drive RB21, or simply break all in addition to Max Verstappen?
I think there are several factors. Example Yuki Tsunoda: He was on Friday, when our car was absolutely not competitive, in both sessions within a tenth of a second (to Verstappen, d.Red.). Then the big conversion came to Saturday and it fell back by a second. Max doesn’t need familiarization time. When a car reacts completely differently, he has it out within one or two rounds. Every other driver needs a corresponding time with such drastic changes as we have made it. So suddenly a blatant gap for tsunoda.
… and Tsunoda’s serious accident on Saturday …
In qualifying yes – that was a driving mistake from Yuki, he didn’t hit the notch well, then he got a blow and it lifted it out. In the race, he drove a perfect race with another specification. From the box in tenth place is fine. But if you are not full of music as we were, you have to do drastic changes that some drivers cannot understand and exploit so quickly.
In addition, Max loves a car that bites at the front, that is, he hates understeer. If the rear is relatively nervous, it doesn’t bother him so much, while most other drivers then go off the gas. Max stays on the gas. With him, vehicle control in all areas is extraordinary and then he still has the mental strength. When it matters, it is the max and makes no mistakes. This sum of factors brings the others break. Tsunoda put this crash away well. Of course, every racing driver wants to beat his teammate. Tsunoda has to find the compromise to drive as number two in such a way that you get into the points but do not try to attack Max – because that is proven, that goes in your pants.
Does Yuki Tsunoda have a future at Red Bull?
Yes, he packs it, you saw that in the race. Yuki is a separate type, emotionally raised. He shouldn’t make mistakes – that’s the decisive factor.
Verstappen in Imola “absolute world class”
What do you say about your racing bulls junior Isack Hadjar? Is he a possible candidate for the Seniort team?
Hadjar is certainly one of the big surprises. He was quick from the start, except for his slip at the first race. Similar to Max, he is in music after three rounds, although he didn’t know most of the routes. Strategically, Racing Bulls in Imola did not act happily again, Hadjar could have been sixth. It is every time in Q3, every time in the points, inconspicuous, unspectacular, but neatly. With more routine – very clear that this can be a candidate.
Video: Analysis – This is how Verstappen in Imola the McLaren
Photo: © Imago/Antonin Vincent
Do you run a duel against the McLaren with Verstappen or can this season be a three- or even four-way fight with Mercedes and Ferrari?
Currently not. Ferrari and Mercedes also brought upgrades. Ferrari was weak in qualifying, it was better in the race. But realistically, they were a second behind Max per round. At Mercedes it was exactly the other way around: they were strong in qualifying, especially when gaming with the medium tires. But they were nowhere in the race, so the tire mining was obvious. As long as our competitors don’t get their problems under control, only McLaren is our opponent. We did not have the same problems to this extent and Max, who can run over these problems. Let’s wait for Barcelona: that should be the decisive race if there is a change (in the balance of power, editor).
Finally: How do you rate Verstappen’s overtaking maneuvers against Piatri in Imola shortly after the start?
Absolute world class, because you have to consider that the driver doesn’t even have a second in which he has to make his decision. Piatri looked at Russell and Max was no longer an opponent for him due to his mediocre start. Piatri braked earlier, Max got this and then made this decision to put it in and be on the ideal line in the second curve. The consequence with which this did was absolutely world class, only a few can.
So repetition at the next race in Monaco?
(Laughs) No, I don’t know where you should slow down so early. But against Max you shouldn’t allow yourself any mistakes in a duel. Monaco is more about driving the in front of a mistake, but Piatri is normally boiled enough that this does not happen to him.
Felix Görner spoke to Helmut Marko