Verstappen finally receives good news: Red Bull solves this key issue

Verstappen struggled with the brakes of his RB21 in the early stages of the season. In contrast, McLaren excels – including in braking. "There are many theories, especially about McLaren's strength in braking," Marko told GPblog among others in the paddock in Imola. "The good news is: our braking problems are now solved."

According to Marko, Red Bull continues to look in all directions for further improvements, but he emphasizes that quick fixes are rare in today's Formula 1. "In modern F1, nothing can be resolved quickly," said the Austrian.

Regarding the overall situation compared to McLaren, Marko remains realistic. "We have made some changes again. If we manage to convert that well tomorrow, maybe something is possible", says the 82-year-old Austrian. However, he emphasizes that the Woking team is in a class of its own in the race.

A shift in focus to 2026 is not yet on the agenda according to Marko. "We are strong enough and have enough people to continue both developments — 2025 and 2026 — at the same time."

Finally, Marko briefly discusses Verstappen's feedback during the first free training in Imola. "He frequently complained about understeering before. That seems to be partially resolved now. We hope that further setup changes help to also regain confidence at the rear."

The strategy for Sunday's race remains open, pending the new soft tire compound (C6): "We'll have to see what the temperatures do tomorrow. Whether it's a one-stopper or two-stopper, and which tire we use, we'll decide on Sunday", Marko concludes.