“Ferrari is the most powerful engine,” Helmut Marko praises the team whilst criticizing them on one key aspect
Helmut Marko is in awe of the Ferrari engine but is critical of their extreme tyre degradation.
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Helmut Marko. Image via Paddock Magazine.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s adviser, has analysed Ferrari’s performance. According to him, Ferrari has the most powerful engine in Formula 1, but they cannot manage their tyre wear efficiently. Last season, Ferrari had a good pace in the low-speed corners and their rival Red Bull had in high-speed corners. However, it is now reversed according to the data collected at the 2023 pre-season testing.
Ferrari topped the speed traps during the weekend. During Q3 in Bahrain Ferrari had an extra 1mph down the main straight over Red Bull. They also carried 1.9mph in turns 10 and 11. This is the reason Helmut Marko believes that Ferrari has the best power unit on the grid. Mercedes used to have the best engine during the 1.6-litre turbo-hybrid era.
Helmut Marko sat down with Motorsports.com and stated, “We don’t have exact power unit figures, but based on various comparisons and information, we generally assume that Ferrari is the most powerful engine. Then comes Honda, and then Mercedes is pretty much on par. Renault brings up the rear.” However, despite having the best power unit, Marko feels that the Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, struggle with rear degradation.
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Helmut Marko slams Ferrari for their tyre wear, says it has “worsened”
Ferrari was behind Red Bull and Aston Martin in the 2023 season opener. Marko stated, “We assumed that the teams, I’ll take Ferrari and Mercedes first and foremost, would work on their weaknesses. Let’s take Ferrari. Top speed has improved significantly, but tyre wear, the crucial thing, has not improved at all. And I would say it’s almost worsened”. The Austrian feels that Ferrari’s tyre wear worsened compared to Red Bull. Although it might be due to the Bahrain track and it might be too early to tell.
Speaking about Mercedes, Helmut Marko stated that their start is bumpy like it was last year. And he does not think there will be an immediate solution. The Red Bull adviser is certain that his team is the season’s favourite despite Ferrari’s power unit. He criticised the team’s ability to fix its issues. According to him, Alpine with the Renault power unit is the slowest engine on the grid.
Ferrari also has reliability issues, which was evident throughout the last season. Coming into the new year, their problems have not been solved. Helmut Marko is aware that tyre wear plays a crucial role in Formula 1. With the tyre degradation and reliability issues, Ferrari is a step behind its 2022 rival, Red Bull. Helmut Marko does not fear the prancing horse.
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“We won’t be as strong as that week in, week out,” Adrian Newey downplays RedBull’s dominant start.
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Sugantha Meena
(493 Articles Published)