Helmut Marko, Red Bull's advisor, has labeled McLaren "untouchable" and identified them as the primary threat for the Dutch Grand Prix, with Aston Martin also showing surprising pace. McLaren dominated Friday's practice sessions in Zandvoort.
Why it matters:
Red Bull, typically dominant, found itself trailing significantly during Friday's practice, indicating a potential shift in the competitive landscape for the Dutch GP. This challenges their usual front-running position and suggests a tougher fight ahead.
The details:
- McLaren's dominance: McLaren secured a 1-2 in FP1, with Lando Norris leading Oscar Piastri. Norris also topped FP2.
- Aston Martin's surprise pace: Fernando Alonso finished second in FP2, less than a tenth off Norris, highlighting Aston Martin's unexpected speed. Helmut Marko noted "something has changed" with the AMR25 post-Budapest.
- Red Bull's struggles: Max Verstappen finished fifth in FP2 and had an off in FP1. Marko admitted the RB21 struggled with balance.
- Marko's assessment: "McLaren is untouchable... I think it’s a fight behind for P3 between Aston Martin, Mercedes, and us." He also expressed hope for the race with harder tire compounds.
What's next:
Red Bull hopes to resolve their balance issues by Saturday's qualifying, typically where their setup improves. They anticipate a medium/hard one-stop strategy for the race, banking on better performance with harder compounds. McLaren is currently seen as "out of range."