Marko hopes for advantage over Mercedes: 'Then they lose performance'

The Spanish Grand Prix is an important test for the rest of the Formula 1 season, so Red Bull Racing will be hoping to be competitive in Barcelona. The Austrian team had some problems in Portugal, but Helmut Marko doesn't expect them in Spain.

In Portimao, Mercedes was the superior team. Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas were allowed to start the race from the front row, and Red Bull had to work hard to get Max Verstappen between the two Mercedes drivers in the race. The GP in Spain was always a 'Mercedes circuit' according to Marko, but that's different this year.

"As we have been close in the last races, and the conditions have not always been in our favour, we expect to have the upper hand again in Barcelona. The irritating 'white lines' (referring to the Track Limits) will also not play a role in Spain,'' Marko told the German RTL.

Marko also hopes that the heavy circuit will be to Red Bull's advantage. Mercedes are struggling with their rear tyres. ''The more grip they have the greater the chance of overheating their tyres and losing speed. The temperature here should be normal again, and the circuit suits our car better,'' the Austrian concludes optimistically.