Helmut Marko's Verdict: Red Bull Updates Show Promise, But McLaren Remains Ahead

Helmut Marko: Red Bull Updates Show Promise, But McLaren Still Leads

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has provided his assessment of the upgrades introduced on the RB21 following Friday's practice at Imola, acknowledging improvements while noting McLaren's continued advantage.

Why it matters:

• Performance Boost: Red Bull brought updates to the RB21 in Imola, following earlier revisions in Saudi Arabia and Miami.
• McLaren's Dominance: Despite the upgrades, McLaren's pace remains a significant challenge.
• Verstappen's Feedback: Max Verstappen reported issues with car balance during practice.

The Details:

Following practice sessions, Marko stated that the upgrades are effective in some areas but that McLaren remains about four-tenths of a second faster. The updates included a revised engine cover, sidepods, rear suspension fairings, and wheel bodywork.

Verstappen experienced issues with understeer in the first session but noted improvements in the middle sector with the new upgrades. Marko indicated that the team aims to refine the car's setup to reduce nervousness and close the gap to McLaren.

Marko highlighted McLaren's strong performance in long runs, although he also suggested that fuel loads might have influenced the observed performance differences. He hopes that the adjustments in Barcelona will bring improvement, with its sharper corners and circuit characteristics.

What's next:

Verstappen acknowledged the need for further improvements in car balance and overall speed. Red Bull is focused on enhancing the car's performance to compete with McLaren in qualifying and the race.