Red Bull advisor: 'Verstappen two or three tenths quicker than Perez'

Like Max Verstappen, Helmut Marko believes Mercedes will start the 2021 season as favourites. However, Red Bull Racing can increase the pressure next year now that Sergio Perez is under contract, Marko believes. The difference with Verstappen is only a few tenths according to the Austrian advisor.

"We hope to be up front, but Mercedes is the clear favourite," Marko told F1-Insider.com. The 77-year-old man from Graz reminds us that Mercedes has already won seven world championships in a row. "After all, they have won all the titles since the hybrid era in 2014."

Difference with Verstappen around two tenths

Red Bull's last world title dates back to 2013 when Sebastian Vettel proved the best of a total of 22 drivers. This season Verstappen and Perez will be competing to succeed Vettel. What is the difference in speed between the two teammates? "We expect him (Perez, ed.) to lose only two or three tenths to Max - not five."

In any case, Verstappen and Perez have not been idle over the winter and have appeared fit for the start of the season. The physical tests at the training centre in Thalgau seem to have been fine. "If the results had been bad, I would have heard something," he laughs at Kronen Zeitung.