Helmut Marko believes that Red Bull’s hopes of retaining F1’s Constructors’ title this season have now all but vanished.
At the outset of its 2024 campaign, the Milton Keynes-based outfit extended its previous year’s dominance, with Max Verstappen winning seven of F1’s ten first races.
But since Barcelona back in June, the Dutchman has failed to step onto the top step of the podium, his efforts undermined by a decline in Red Bull’s competitiveness relative to its direct rivals.
McLaren and Ferrari have both capitalized in the bulls’ downturn in form and surged ahead of their opponent who continues to grapple with the performance issues impacting its RB20 machine.
Furthermore, Sergio Perez's persistent struggles have also contributed to the team's decline. The Mexican driver has been unable to consistently challenge for podium positions, and his points tally has fallen well short of expectations.
With four races left on the docket, McLaren leads the charge with 566 points, while Ferrari has seized the runner-up spot with 537 points leaving Red Bull in third with 512 points.
In an interview with Austrian outlet OE24, Marko believes the title race is over for Red Bull.
"We have lost that title," he said. “Ferrari in its current form is out of our reach and they can even catch up with McLaren."
©RedBull
While the Constructors’ title may be slipping away, Marko remains cautiously optimistic about the Drivers’ Championship, with Max Verstappen holding a 47-point lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris.
However, Verstappen is set to face an engine penalty in Brazil this weekend, but Marko views this as a potential opportunity at Interlagos rather than a setback
"I'm not that relaxed about it," Marko admitted. "We will need a new engine and will therefore receive an engine penalty [of five places for a new internal combustion engine].
“The good thing is that we'll have a few more horsepower and hopefully more speed. You can also overtake well in Brazil."
With this strategic approach, Red Bull is aiming to salvage the season by focusing on Verstappen’s title bid, even as the Constructors’ Championship slips further from reach.
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