Marko makes daunting admission despite Red Bull’s recent progress

Speaking to GPblog after Sprint Qualifying in Austin, the Austrian advisor admitted that if Red Bull’s season had unfolded the way it has in recent races from the very start, the championship standings would look very different today.

“In the beginning it was not so bad, but after Imola we dropped back. If we would have made this turnaround earlier, the championship would look different,” he said.

After stating that a win in Singapore had been possible — and that it would have greatly helped their title chase — Marko made another admission: “I think we can’t do it on our own, we need some help from McLaren.”

Finally, when asked what kind of Sprint Race he expects to see, Marko concluded: “It should be even hotter. That normally favours McLaren, but I hope that Max stays ahead, and he can manage it.”

In recent races, the RB21 has clearly taken a big step forward with its latest upgrades. Verstappen’s ability to hassle — and often beat — the two McLarens has confirmed that Red Bull are back at the sharp end after the struggles they faced mid-season.

Marko believes the four-time world champion is now capable of fighting for both pole and victory at every track left on the calendar, making full use of the car’s newly unlocked potential.