Red Bull’s biggest competitor has been the underdog, Mclaren. Although the Bulls enjoyed unparalleled domination initially, their momentous run has been halted. Now, the squad appears vulnerable, having gone winless in the last eight rounds. As a result, McLaren has expanded its Constructor’s Cup lead over the reigning world champion. Moreover, Lando Norris is also on the verge of overtaking Maax Verstappen in the WDC race.
Therefore, the RBR is under tremendous pressure as the team tries everything to return to winning ways. The frustration is visible in the Red Bull camp, as the senior personnel use verbal jabs to knock out rivals. First, it was Christian Horner trying to unsettle the Mercedes camp; now, it’s Helmut Marko firing shots at McLaren. In a recent media interaction, the senior Red Bull advisor made a bold claim about teh aspiring world champions.
Helmut Marko Aims To Disrupt McLaren’s Momentum With Verbal Jabs
With six rounds to go in the 2024 season, Red Bull and McLaren are the top teams in the race to clinch the world titles. However, the Papaya squad has emerged as the new dominant force since the Miami GP. On the other hand, Red Bull’s performance graph crashed at the midpoint after a remarkable start to 2024. The current scenario favors McLaren, with the team sitting at the top of the constructors’ standing. Meanwhile, Lando Norris is also on the right path to outmaneuver the RBR starlet.
The ongoing WDC fight appears similar to what happened in 2009 when Jenson Button gained momentum in the initial races, maintaining the lead against the Red Bull-Sebastian Vettel pair. Eventually, the lead helped him win the Drivers Cup. Max Verstappen is in a similar situation against Lando Norris.
Thus, when Helmut Marko was asked to link the current situation with 2009, the RBR advisor replied bluntly, claiming McLaren was not mature enough like Red Bull in 2009. Speaking to OE24, Marko said the current McLaren’s immaturity would cost them the world title despite having the quickest car and strongest drivers. Further, he accepted that Red Bull is on a ‘downward trend, similar to Ferrari and Mercedes. Therefore, things appear uncertain for the Milton Keynes-based outfit. However, with new parts incoming, Marko remains optimistic about winning the world titles.
Marko Highlights The Mental Toughness Gap Between Norris And Verstappen
Helmut Marko has expressed his belief that Max Verstappen possesses exceptional mental strength and driving skills, positioning him as the best in the field. In contrast, he pointed out that Lando Norris struggles with his mental resilience, particularly at the start of races. The mounting pressure intensifies for Norris with each race, as he feels compelled to secure victories to close the gap in the championship standings. This situation creates a favorable environment for Verstappen, allowing him to defend his position more effectively.
Looking ahead, Marko noted that the upcoming races in Austin and Mexico are particularly well-suited to Verstappen’s driving style, further solidifying his confidence in the reigning champion’s ability to perform.