In the high-pressure world of Formula 1, team dynamics and driver pairings can make or break a championship campaign as Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko recently explained.
In an interview with German website F1 Insider, the Austrian veteran weighed in on McLaren’s two-pronged title challenge, Oscar Piastri’s rise, and Mercedes prospect Kimi Antonelli – offering both praise and pointed observations on the 2025 Formula 1 landscape.
Marko also assessed McLaren’s current position with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri compared to Red Bull’s single-driver focus.
McLaren’s Double-Edged Sword
Team Papaya’s driver lineup has been a key factor in their 2025 season performance, but Marko sees both opportunity and risk in fielding such a strong pairing.
“As long as they're so dominant, they can get by without team orders, and I think it's very sporting that they haven't issued team orders yet,” Marko noted.
However, he cautioned that this egalitarian strategy could backfire in the context of a multi-team championship battle.
“But when things get tighter, it's certainly a disadvantage if two top drivers take points away from each other. But that's not the case at the moment,” he added.
“With the lead they have, they're not risking anything.”
Piastri vs. Norris: A Long-Term Perspective
When queried on the relative strengths of McLaren’s drivers, Marko offered a nuanced take on the Woking-based outfit’s duo.
“Piastri has the nerve, is more consistent, and always gets the best out of himself. I've never seen him so emotionally charged,” he said, praising the Australian’s mental fortitude and steady improvement.
In contrast, he acknowledged Norris’s raw pace but gave Piastri the edge overall.
“Norris may be faster per lap, but overall, I see Piastri ahead.”
Marko’s assessment underscores Piastri’s growing reputation as a dependable performer, even as Norris remains a formidable force on his best days.
Speculation about Piastri’s ceiling has drawn comparisons to Red Bull’s Verstappen, but Marko was quick to temper expectations.
“Piastri has had an incredible career and is improving year after year. He had some major fluctuations last year, depending on the track. That's no longer the case,” he said.
“But Verstappen is Verstappen – he still has a long way to go. The potential to become a truly great driver is there, though.”
For Marko, Piastri’s trajectory is promising, but Verstappen remains the benchmark.
Antonelli’s Potential and Red Bull’s Junior Strategy
The conversation also turned to Mercedes’ 18-year-old prodigy, Kimi Antonelli, who has faced intense scrutiny in his debut season.
Addressing comments from former F1 driver Martin Brundle, who suggested Antonelli would have already been dropped at this stage by Red Bull’s ruthless system, Marko defended his camp’s approach to nurturing talent.
“The difference: Our juniors first drive for the Racing Bulls and aren't immediately exposed to the pressure of F1. We also don't create hype around a young driver before they're in an F1 car,” he explained.
Marko offered a measured evaluation of Antonelli’s current form, acknowledging his speed but highlighting areas for growth.
“Very fast, but still very young. In Spa, he told me he doesn't have confidence in the car and that as soon as he pushes, he no longer has control,” Marko revealed.
“It's more a mental thing, and apparently the car – like ours – is very critical in the working window, and once it's working, it's much more aggressive, which of course makes things much easier for a veteran like George Russell.
“Kimi just needs to be given time to recover, just as Lawson rediscovered his form with Racing Bulls. But thankfully, Mercedes doesn't have the luxury of a second team.”
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