Helmut Marko deems the Lando Norris-led McLaren as Red Bulls’ ‘biggest opponent’ in 2024

McLaren has so far scored 212 points this season.

Helmut Marko deems the Lando Norris-led McLaren as Red Bulls’ ‘biggest opponent’ in 2024

Helmut Marko and Lando Norris (via IMAGO)

Red Bull Technical Advisor, Helmut Marko has sung praise of Lando Norris‘s McLaren in light of their strong performances this season. Marko has hence deemed the papaya outfit as Red Bull’s biggest opponent for the current campaign.

McLaren has discovered a rejuvenated form and is currently the third-fastest team on the grid behind Ferrari and Red Bull. But despite being a few tenths off of the leaders, the England-based team has been one of the most consistent squads and has managed to score podiums in six races out of a possible nine this campaign.

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Lando Norris won a race for the first time in his career this season at Miami and has been the lead driver for McLaren. Helmut Marko, therefore, deemed the Norris-led McLaren as a constant threat to the Milton-Keynes outfit, no matter the track or the conditions.

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McLaren is our biggest opponent at the moment. No matter what track.
Helmut Marko said ahead of qualifying in Barcelona

McLaren currently trails Red Bull in the constructor’s championship by 89 points and is keen to exploit the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to their advantage to edge past the Milton-Keynes outfit on Sunday. The upcoming qualifying will determine how McLaren stacks up against its rivals Red Bull and Ferrari as an exciting threeway battle heats up in F1.

Zak Brown reveals the current mindset at McLaren ahead of Spanish GP

McLaren CEO, Zak Brown has claimed that the team needs to focus on winning each weekend rather than eyeing the championship title, which is a far more distant task. Brown has revealed that McLaren has to fight and fend off Ferrari, Red Bull, and even Mercedes, who have been encouraging since the past few races.

Zak Brown (via IMAGO)
Zak Brown (via IMAGO)
I think when you look at the points, Mercedes isn't that far back. They're not out of the race. Ferrari's, I think, 40 or so points ahead. And Red Bull, we've had the most points out of all the teams in the last three races. We're not racing with let's go win the championship. We're racing with let's try and win this race and then win the next one.
Zak Brown via Sky Sports

McLaren had an encouraging run in practice on Friday with Lando Norris setting the fastest pace of all in FP1 of the Spanish Grand Prix. The Woking-based team has reportedly brought a new upgrade to their floor designs, which is planned to give them an edge over the others.

Zak Brown feels it is important for McLaren to have proper tactics and strategies to capitalize on the opportunities that they will receive in Barcelona. The upcoming race on Sunday will witness Norris and Oscar Piastri looking to score the team’s second win of the season as they look to stave off tough competition from the likes of Ferrari and Red Bull.

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