Helmut Marko commented on Red Bull’s race expectations following Max Verstappen’s fourth-place finish in the sprint qualifying at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, detailed the difficulties the team is facing in preparing the RB20 for the challenges posed by the newly resurfaced Interlagos circuit. While Verstappen secured fourth in the sprint race qualifying, Sergio Perez was eliminated in SQ2 and will start the sprint from 13th position, which is one-third the length of the regular race.
The new asphalt at Interlagos is bumpier than the previous version, exacerbating one of Red Bull’s known weaknesses. Throughout the season, Red Bull drivers have struggled to extract maximum performance from the RB20 on tracks with challenging curbs or uneven surfaces. Combined with the car’s narrow balance range, Verstappen and Perez are finding it difficult to compete with teams like McLaren and Ferrari, which have strengthened throughout the season.
With McLaren securing the front row for the sprint race and Verstappen positioned among the Ferraris, Marko outlined Red Bull’s race expectations.
Speaking to Sky Sports Germany, Marko said, “We’re very slow. We’re losing a lot of time to McLaren in Turns 4 and 9. We have a few issues, and the bumpy nature of the track doesn’t help; when we hit the curbs too much, the car starts bouncing.”
“I think keeping up with McLaren will be very difficult, if not practically impossible. Ferrari at least looks reachable in the sprint race. However, considering single-lap performance, the gap is still quite large.”
There was a positive development for the Red Bull family in the sprint qualifying as Liam Lawson, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo in VCARB, advanced to SQ3, continuing his impressive performance with the eighth-fastest time. Yuki Tsunoda, however, was eliminated in SQ1.
Evaluating Lawson’s performance, Marko stated, “He was solid again. It’s his first race here, and he’s showing a flawless driving display. Even under pressure, as he did in SQ3, he’s definitely performing at his best.”
