Helmut Marko Reflects on Jeddah GP, Verstappen’s Penalty, and Tsunoda’s Growth
The dust has barely settled on the high-speed streets of Jeddah, but the Formula 1 paddock is already turning its eyes toward Imola, where Red Bull Racing believes it can strike back against McLaren. After a dramatic Saudi Arabian Grand Prix that saw Max Verstappen slapped with a controversial time penalty, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko opened up about what really went down, how the team is progressing, and where they see themselves in the coming rounds—especially with Imola looming.
Verstappen’s Penalty Sparks Debate
One of the major talking points after Jeddah was the five-second time penalty handed to Verstappen. The Dutchman had completed an aggressive move on Oscar Piastri but was deemed to have overtaken off-track. Verstappen argued he was forced wide and had nowhere else to go, insisting that he should’ve been given more space.
Helmut Marko, never one to shy away from a direct answer, shared his perspective during a conversation with Motorsport.com in the paddock:
“In my view, that was a racing incident. If you watched the Formula 2 races that weekend, similar situations happened three or four times—and the only driver who even got a warning was Luke Browning. No one got a five-second penalty. And let’s not forget, this was the first corner of the first lap. That matters.”
Marko’s frustration with the stewards’ decision was evident—not because they can’t make tough calls, but because of what he sees as inconsistency.
Strategic Calculations: Why Red Bull Didn’t Give the Position Back
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Asked whether Red Bull considered giving the position back and attempting to pass later on, Marko was clear:
“It was nearly impossible to overtake on that track. We felt we could create more opportunities through pit stops and race traffic. That’s where our strategy was focused, and we believed staying in position would be more advantageous in the long run.”
This decision, as it turns out, may have cost Verstappen the win.
“Yes, That’s Where We Lost the Race”
When pressed on whether that early incident decided the outcome, Marko didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.”
It’s a rare admission, but one that highlights just how tight the margins are in today’s Formula 1.
“Max had the pace. And the bright side is, our tires performed incredibly well. There was no degradation. That’s something we can build on.”
Unexpected Race Pace in Jeddah
Before the race, even Verstappen expressed doubts about Red Bull’s long-run performance, suggesting that things might be more difficult come Sunday. But in the end, the RB20 delivered.
“We were surprised, but in a good way—especially with both the medium and hard compounds,” said Marko. “There was a significant improvement from Bahrain, and this circuit suits us better with its fast corners.”
It’s a positive sign that the team isn’t just reacting to tracks individually but showing a more consistent upward trend.
A Three-Step Upgrade Plan—and All Eyes on Imola
Citing the update package introduced in Jeddah, Marko revealed that it’s just the beginning of a phased development strategy that includes planned improvements for Miami and Imola.
“There will be small steps, but I believe by the time we arrive in Imola, we’ll have the pace to beat the McLarens.”
It’s an ambitious target, but also a clear sign that Red Bull doesn’t intend to let McLaren close the gap without a fight.
A Rocky Start: Max’s Launch Disappoints
Verstappen’s start in Jeddah wasn’t exactly textbook, and Marko didn’t sugarcoat his disappointment.
“I was disappointed, not surprised. Usually, starts are one of Max’s strong suits, but this time, in the second phase of the launch, he lost the battle. He made up for it later with late braking and retaking the lead, but it wasn’t the cleanest start we’ve seen from him.”
Marko acknowledged Verstappen’s visible frustration post-race:
“Of course he was angry. He could have won that race. That’s very clear.”
Tsunoda Shows Progress—But Pressure Remains
Shifting gears to the second Red Bull-backed team, Racing Bulls, Marko spoke about Yuki Tsunoda’s weekend—which included a clash with Pierre Gasly but also flashes of genuine pace.
“That was just a racing incident—unfortunate, really. He could have scored points, but that’s racing.”
Overall, though, there were positives to take away.
“In free practice, when the pressure isn’t as intense, he’s usually just 0.2 to 0.3 seconds off. That wasn’t the case this weekend. In qualifying, he tends to push too hard, but he’s progressing toward point-scoring performances.”
Asked what the next step is for Tsunoda, Marko didn’t mince words:
“He needs to deliver under pressure—especially in qualifying.”
Racing Bulls’ Performance: “They Did a Good Job”
As for the team itself, Racing Bulls earned some praise, even if the results didn’t fully reflect the effort.
“They did a good job. Hadjar was quicker, but overtaking was nearly impossible. If the tire performance is similar, passing becomes basically impossible.”
It’s a familiar story in modern F1, where tire management and track position often dictate results more than outright pace.
Looking Ahead to Miami and Beyond
So, does this performance boost Red Bull’s confidence heading into Miami, where typically hot conditions could favor or challenge the team in different ways? Marko is cautiously optimistic.
“The race doesn’t happen under the peak sun—it’s in the evening. We’ll see how that plays out. We’ve got a good baseline now, and I think we can be competitive in Miami too.”
The Red Bull camp knows the championship fight is still long. And with McLaren threatening and Ferrari consistently close, every update, every decision, every second on track matters.
Conclusion: Imola Becomes a Key Benchmark
As Red Bull fine-tunes its upgrades and continues its hunt for consistency, Imola stands out as a key test. Marko’s confidence that the team will be able to take the fight to McLaren there speaks volumes—not just about the RB20’s potential, but about the mindset within Red Bull Racing.
The team has been here before. Dominant one season, challenged the next. But if there’s one thing that defines Red Bull, it’s resilience. And at Imola, we’ll see just how close they are to catching up—and maybe even pulling ahead.
