Red Bull challenging Mercedes, not Ferrari - Marko
Red Bull challenging Mercedes, not Ferrari - Marko
Red Bull are setting their sights on championship leaders Mercedes, rather than Ferrari following the Australian Grand Prix, according to Dr Helmut Marko, who said Max Verstappen's Melbourne podium showed that the team is competitive with their new Honda power units.
Verstappen overtook Sebastian Vettel to secure third place behind the dominant Mercedes in Melbourne, with Ferrari struggling badly, having entered the race as strong favourites after pre-season testing.
The Dutchman had enough power to pull alongside Vettel out of turn two, before completing a DRS-assisted pass into turn three and Marko said the Honda engine performed perfectly all weekend.
"It's encouraging for the future that we did not get a single warning on the engine side throughout the race," he told Speed Week. "Everything from fuel consumption to power, battery and so on was always in the green.
Team boss Christian Horner told Auto Bild: "[Honda motorsport boss, Masashi] Yamamoto even shed a few tears under the podium."
Verstappen closed up to Lewis Hamilton in second before the end of the race, but could not find a way past the reigning champion. Nevertheless, Marko was satisfied.
"We kept the distance to Mercedes within respectable limits," he said.
"We are not looking behind us to Ferrari now. For us, first place is always the bar, so we look forward."
Marko even said Red Bull-Honda's title hopes are alive and well.
"Max started the season very well," he said. "That is how you win titles, by achieving the optimal result and scoring points.
"With our car, he will be able to fight for the title. Absolutely.
"We want more than third places. But the team is on the right track, and if we talk about pace, then we were on equal terms with Hamilton.
"Now we have to work on the chassis as fast as possible. We need more downforce, because we've built cars with as little downforce as possible in recent years so the drag is not too great.
"But that's not the problem anymore."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Alonso and Taylor Swift rumours reignited by new album lyric
- 14 minutes ago
F1 team lodge FIA PROTEST over Chinese Grand Prix qualifying result
- 52 minutes ago
FIA confirm penalty verdict after official PROTEST
- 1 hour ago
F1 star apologises after China Sprint CLASH
- 2 hours ago
Alonso reveals MISTAKE cost him in shock Red Bull battle - Top three verdict
- 2 hours ago
F1 star accuses team-mate of ‘crossing the line’ in battle
- 3 hours ago
Related news
F1 team announces 2026 title bid in BLOW to Red Bull
Wolff 'p*****' by Verstappen error as star makes Mercedes debut
Driver suggests Newey tempted by 'enticing' offer from F1 rivals
Red Bull boss Horner SHUTS DOWN F1 rival Wolff's title talk
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860