Red Bull: Ferrari pushed to show they're not cheating

Dr Helmut Marko believes Ferrari have put full power down from the very start of the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend in a bid to prove they are not flouting engine regulations.

Ferrari's fearsome pace since a summertime engine upgrade has turned heads among their rivals, as well as helping the Scuderia secure six straight pole positions between Belgium and Mexico.

Although Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel have not managed to convert them all into victories, the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes have clearly been rattled.

When Ferrari's pace dropped off at the United States GP, Max Verstappen said: "That's what happens when you stop cheating."

Verstappen was likely discussing a technical directive issued ahead of the Austin race, seen as an attempt to get to the bottom of Ferrari's advantage.

Another TD was issued before the Brazilian GP, but Ferrari were unaffected, ending Friday practice fastest of all.

Marko believes Vettel and Leclerc may have pushed harder in a bid to show that the TD had not impacted their power.

The Austrian told Auto Motor und Sport: "If I were Ferrari, I would do everything in my power to drive away from the others on the straight, otherwise, everyone believes that they are cheating.

"It will be interesting to see what it will be like [in qualifying]."

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