Helmut Marko rubbishes claims of Red Bull favoritism towards ‘golden boy’ Max Verstappen over Sergio Perez

Red Bull is dominating the 2023 season with their RB19, becoming one of the most dominant cars in the sport’s history. The RB19 has won every race this season, including the sprint events. Max Verstappen has won 10 of the 12 races he has entered, while his teammate Sergio Perez has only won two. 

As Red Bull and Verstappen inch closer to winning the championship, some have voiced concerns about favoritism within the organization. A tectonic shift in performance was seen in 2022 as well. Helmut Marko, the team’s Motorsport Advisor, vehemently dismisses these charges, claiming no bias at work.

In the 2022 season, Red Bull initially struggled with reliability issues. However, as the season progressed, the team sorted their problems out, and both Verstappen and Sergio Perez appeared to be on equal footing, presenting realistic challenges for the championship. Yet, from the Canadian Grand Prix onwards, Perez’s performance began to lag significantly behind Verstappen’s, gradually slipping down the standings. 

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Helmut Marko clarifies their 2022 goal was to shed car weight, not favor Verstappen

Critics contend that Red Bull’s development of the RB18 favored Verstappen’s driving style, despite the team’s denials. Speaking to Motorsport Magazin.com, Marko firmly rejects that Red Bull consistently develops the car in Verstappen’s direction, emphasizing, “That’s not the case.” Marko clarifies that their intention was not to tailor the vehicle to Verstappen but to reduce its weight. 

At the beginning of the season, the vehicle exceeded the minimum weight by nearly 3 kilograms, affecting its weight distribution and causing understeer. By trimming the car’s weight, it became more nosey, a trait favored by Verstappen. “But since dieting the car, it has reverted back to the tendency to oversteer,” the Austrian said. 

He explains that Verstappen requires a grippy front axle and cannot tolerate understeer. Moreover, Marko claims Verstappen possesses exceptional control even when the car’s rear becomes loose and swerves at high speeds. Marko states, “Most other drivers are more difficult to deal with a nervous car.”

Red Bull is developing their current suits for both their drivers claims Helmut Marko

Red Bull aimed to strike a balance in their setup, ensuring Perez felt reasonably comfortable while maintaining the car’s speed. The Austrian revealed that, “We are now on the right track that the vote is such that Perez also feels reasonably comfortable, but the car is still fast.” Marko added, “Because a fast car is usually nervous and certainly not easy to drive.” 

Despite sharing the same car as Verstappen, Perez trailed significantly, a staggering 125 points behind. His confidence and title aspirations suffered a blow following a crash during Monaco GP qualifying. This setback overshadowed his subsequent performances, as he endured a series of eliminations in Q1 and Q2 for five consecutive races.

Marko acknowledges the impact of Perez’s Monaco crash on his confidence, further underscoring the challenges faced by the Mexican driver in keeping pace with his remarkable teammate. In the 2023 season, the team’s cars seem to accommodate both their drivers better. As the F1 heads to Zandvroot after the summer hiatus, it remains to be seen if the Mexican can mount a comeback. 

In case you missed it:

• Valtteri Bottas admits Alfa Romeo got out developed by rivals in the 2023 season
• Zak Brown claims McLaren’s major upgrades signal readiness for championship wins

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