During the test drives and in the first race of the season in Bahrain, the Mercedes Formula 1 racing team only lagged behind the competition. Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko was surprised in an exclusive interview with RTL/ntv and sport.de – and drew a bleak scenario for Mercedes. His team, on the other hand, managed the change of season very well.
Helmut Marko is more than satisfied with the first appearances of his Red Bull racing team. “As of now, I have to say that we have eliminated the few weaknesses that we had, while Ferrari is still struggling with immensely high tire wear,” said the 79-year-old in an exclusive interview RTL/ntv and sport.de.
Ferrari is strong “on a single lap” and will “certainly take pole position from Red Bull one time or another”. A progress is not actually recognizable with the reds.
It looks far bleaker at Mercedes. In the concept for the new season he sees “not one problem, but several. The solution didn’t come over the winter either”. When asked by reporter Felix Görner whether he was disappointed by the Mercedes concept, Helmut Marko replied: “To be honest: I’m not disappointed, I’m more surprised.”
In the case of Mercedes, according to Marko, the cost cap is now becoming a problem, “because you are simply limited in your options. You cannot design two or three vehicles. If a completely new vehicle comes up now, then the financial limits will make it difficult. And this new vehicle will not be competitive straight away either, you have to develop that further.”
Marko on Red Bull development: “We can’t afford to miss”
The competition therefore lacks both the three test days and the racing experience. Helmut Marko concluded: “In this respect, I think it is realistic to say that the world title is out of reach for Mercedes.”
Red Bull proceeded very methodically in the design of its own vehicle, above all because of the reduced wind tunnel time imposed as a penalty for budget overruns in the past. Red Bull only used the wind tunnel if there was a “highest possible probability” of improvements in advance. Because: “We can’t afford to miss.”
The development of the car will become more and more difficult as the season progresses, said Helmut Marko, who will be celebrating his 80th birthday at the end of April on the sidelines of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. “That’s why it’s important that we get as many points ahead as possible in this first phase.”
Felix Görner conducted the interview with Helmut Marko