Helmut Marko has sounded the alarm at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where McLaren appears poised to challenge Red Bull’s dominance. With Lando Norris leading the charge, McLaren showed a promising edge in practice, outpacing Max Verstappen by 0.243 seconds. This sets the stage for an intriguing battle as the grid gears up for the high-stakes qualifying round.
Red Bull’s latest upgrades for the RB20 were on full display at the Hungarian Grand Prix, featuring a new engine cover, re-sculpted sidepods, and several other enhancements. Max Verstappen was at the helm, piloting the fully upgraded car, while his teammate Sergio Perez, missing the new engine cover, lagged by two-tenths in FP2. Helmut Marko, the Red Bull motorsport advisor, expressed confidence in the new developments, emphasizing their effectiveness despite Perez’s slight disadvantage.
Marko’s assessment is that the performance gap between Verstappen and Perez’s cars is negligible, which should ease worries about the recent upgrades. While Verstappen views these changes as vital to maintaining his lead in the Drivers’ Championship—having clinched only two victories in the last five events—Marko remains undeterred by such concerns, citing an 84-point lead. He jokes about Verstappen’s insatiable drive for perfection but notes that the team can rely on its intrinsic strengths once again. The key lies in achieving optimal balance quickly, a challenge Red Bull has faced, compromising their pace across varying tire compounds and conditions.
Meanwhile, McLaren’s performance has been consistent, regardless of the circuit or weather. Even in the sweltering heat, the team excelled in every session. Marko acknowledges McLaren as a formidable competitor heading into Saturday’s qualifying, but issues a cautionary note: Red Bull didn’t unleash their full engine power during practice. He anticipates a strong showing in the long runs, positioning Red Bull right at the front with McLaren.
As the temperatures soar, reaching potentially over 50 degrees on the track, Marko suggests Mercedes might struggle under such conditions. Winning the last two races, Mercedes faces a possible setback if the heat compromises the track’s surface and diminishes their strengths.
In an unpredictable turn at the Hungarian Grand Prix, McLaren threatens Red Bull’s standing with a confident display in practice. Yet, as qualifying looms, the power dynamics may shift as Red Bull prepares to fully harness its vehicle upgrades. Only time will tell if McLaren can maintain its edge or if Red Bull will rise to the occasion and affirm its place at the top.
