Marko Confident Red Bull Can Recover After Rocky 2026 Start

Former Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko insists the team can "catch up quickly" despite a disastrous opening to the 2026 Formula 1 season, which has left them fifth in the standings with only 12 points from two races plagued by reliability failures.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's early struggles represent a dramatic fall from grace for a team that was fighting for the championship just last season. Marko's confidence highlights the intense pressure and expectation on the squad to reverse its fortunes rapidly, as a prolonged slump could have significant repercussions for driver morale and the team's competitive standing.

The details:

• The team's points haul comes from Isack Hadjar's P8 finish in China, as Max Verstappen retired from that race with a coolant fault and Hadjar also retired early in Australia.
• Team Principal Laurent Mekies has openly acknowledged a "substantial gap" exists to the leading Mercedes and Ferrari teams.
• Internally, the new technical regulations have sparked disagreement between the drivers, with Verstappen calling the current cars "painful" to drive while newcomer Hadjar has a more neutral view.
• Marko points to the unexpected cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix in April as a potential silver lining, giving the team more development time without the pressure of scoring immediate points.

What's next:

All eyes are on Red Bull's response during the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix and the extended break that follows. The team's historical ability to develop a car in-season will be put to the ultimate test. If they fail to close the gap significantly by the European summer, their 2026 campaign risks being written off entirely, shifting focus to a major reset for 2027.