Marko sees Ferrari improving: 'Perhaps best qualifying driver'

After Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing's dominant season, questions are building in F1 2024. Is Verstappen moving further away from the competition in his RB20, or are they closing in? Which driver and team is Verstappen's biggest competitor? Helmut Marko explains his findings on these questions.

The Red Bull adviser outlines what he hopes for next season. "Our goal is [Verstappen's] fourth world title, that's clear. The whole picture seems to be right. Max has become even better, as far as that is still possible," Marko told Kleine Zeitung. Verstappen won 19 of the 22 races on the Formula 1 calendar in 2023.

If Marko had to pinpoint one competitor, it would be the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. "Ferrari has moved closer, in qualifying they are maybe even on par, that is also Leclerc's strength, he is perhaps the best qualifying driver. On a circuit like Monte Carlo, it is difficult if you are not at the front," the Austrian revealed.

A scenario where Red Bull does not win one race, and the rest do, need not be taken into account, Marko believes. He does expect it all to be closer together. "I don't expect the same level of sovereignty this year as last year, even though the world title is clearly within reach," the Austrian concluded.