Marko warns Red Bull they cannot afford 'disastrous' days in final title gamble

15:34, 19 Jul

Updated: 18:27, 19 Jul

byMarnik Kok

The Formula 1 season is proving to be a tough one for Red Bull. While there is a small glimmer of hope in the form of an upcoming upgrade package, Helmut Marko remains realistic, setting a deadline for improvement. The big question remains: can Max Verstappen still fight for the title?

The Dutchman currently trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 69 points, with McLaren teammate Lando Norris close behind. Despite various voices already declaring Red Bull’s season a lost cause, Helmut Marko remains hopeful. The veteran advisor believes there’s still a chance to turn things around, though time is running out.

"There are still 332 points to be won, which is quite a lot. We hope that the updates we bring to Spa and Budapest will have an impact," he said to OE24.

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Among the races are also sprint weekends, which reduce practice time, something Helmut Marko believes is crucial for Red Bull.

According to him, it can go either way: limited preparation can expose weaknesses in the car setup, but it can also level the playing field if the team gets it right from the start.

"On the one hand, there are more points to be distributed, but on the other hand, we miss two practices. We cannot afford a disastrous Friday. Everything has to work right from the beginning."

Can Verstappen do anything against McLaren?

The 69-point gap, with still several races remaining, is not insurmountable. However, McLaren currently holds the upper hand, while Red Bull continues to struggle with recurring issues. When asked about Verstappen's chances at Spa-Francorchamps and whether he can take the fight to the McLarens, Helmut Marko had to deliver disappointing news.

The aforementioned medium assumes that if Verstappen cannot beat McLaren in Spa, the championship is definitely over. The short but harsh answer from Marko: "That's indeed the expectation."

Red Bull's updates aren’t expected to be groundbreaking, as previously reported by GPBlog. While some bodywork adjustments are on the way, no major performance leaps are anticipated. Still, the changes could prove valuable for Verstappen, but whether they'll be enough to challenge the dominant McLaren remains to be seen.