Helmut Marko has given a candid assessment of Red Bull’s recent upgrades, unveiling mixed results following the Friday sessions at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. While improvements were noted, McLaren’s dominance was hard to ignore.
Red Bull’s latest enhancements to the RB21 car, rolled out at Imola, are causing quite a stir in the racing community. Among the changes are a revised engine cover, radiator duct outlets, sidepods, and updates to the rear suspension and wheel bodywork. However, the journey wasn’t entirely smooth, particularly for Max Verstappen, who reported some discomfort. In the first practice session, Verstappen struggled with the rear end, expressing a lack of confidence. Even though adjustments were made, his best lap time still left him over three-tenths of a second behind the McLarens.
Marko shared his initial reactions post-session, expressing a positive outlook on the enhancements, albeit with a hint of caution. He admitted that while certain areas have seen improvements, McLaren remains the team to beat, maintaining a clear lead by about four-tenths of a second. There’s optimism about resolving Verstappen’s understeer issues, and they’re seeing significant speed gains in the middle sector, signaling progress.
Despite this, Marko acknowledged the challenge remains as McLaren continues to set the benchmark. In Miami, McLaren’s advantage was particularly evident when their cars left competitors trailing by over 30 seconds. This was thanks to their superior tire management, a feat that Red Bull is striving to match.
Verstappen, echoing Marko’s sentiments, recognized the need for further adjustments, especially with qualifying on the horizon. “We tried a lot of things today. Some things worked a bit better than others, but ultimately, we weren’t fast enough today.” His words underscore the necessity for Red Bull to find a better balance if they are to challenge McLaren’s supremacy.
The task for Red Bull is clear-cut: they need to reduce the gap and make strategic use of their developments. The team is hopeful that upcoming circuits, like Barcelona, could tilt things in their favor. With sharper corners and a different circuit character, Barcelona might just provide the breakthrough they need.
The updates to the Red Bull RB21 have shown promise, but the road to overtaking McLaren is steep. Helmut Marko remains hopeful yet realistic about the task ahead. As the racing season progresses, Red Bull’s focus remains on refining their car to close the gap and challenge McLaren’s current dominance.
