Helmut Marko labels Ferrari and Mercedes’ progress as ‘disappointing’

Ferrari and Mercedes have been on an average 0.3 seconds behind the Red Bull so far this season.

Helmut Marko (Left, credits: F1 Fansite) and Toto Wolff, Fred Vasseur (Right, credits: F1)

Red Bull’s dominance has been nothing short of spectacular this season, with an impressive 12-race winning streak that places them at the precipice of both the Constructors’ and Max Verstappen‘s potential 3rd World Title. This remarkable success has highlighted the prowess of their car and driver alike, as they’ve outpaced every competitor on the track.

“Our car is definitely good, and we developed it well after last year,” Helmut Marko proudly stated, affirming Red Bull’s dedicated efforts in refining their machine. The effort throughout the off-season has converted into an unequaled performance on race day, demonstrating their engineering superiority. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are the only drivers who have managed to stop Red Bull from taking the pole position every weekend.

However, the competitive landscape has been marred by the disappointing struggles of the once-mighty Ferrari and Mercedes teams. Last year, Ferrari was Red Bull’s closest challenger, but this season, they’ve stumbled into fourth place in the standings. “Surprisingly, our competitors Ferrari and Mercedes are disappointing,” Marko said, as reported by Racingnews360. Persistent reliability issues, strategic blunders, and driver mishaps have continued to haunt Ferrari, preventing them from recovering fully from their setbacks.

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Mercedes, too, has found itself in a perplexing situation. After grappling with their zero-pod concept in the prior season, they unveiled a revamped approach this year. Nevertheless, they still find themselves trailing behind Red Bull. While Mercedes currently holds the second spot in the standings, Marko’s assessment doesn’t paint a promising picture. The gap to Red Bull has remained relatively unchanged, with drivers performing heroics to compensate for the car’s limitations.

Discover: Ferrai boss Fred Vasseur claims Red Bull is the only team with a ‘number 1 driver’

Helmut Marko asserts that Red Bull’s superiority comes from Max Verstappen

Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen (Credits: GPFans)

“The RB19 is certainly the most universal and the fastest car of the moment but its superiority – this obvious superiority” He added that this superiority “comes from Max Verstappen.” The Dutchman has won 10 out of 12 races so far and is 125 points ahead of his teammate, nearest challenger Sergio Perez in the standings.

Helmut Marko also contrasted Verstappen’s performance to that of his teammate Perez, remarking that Verstappen routinely outperforms Perez in races by half a second to 0.6 seconds each lap. According to Marko, Verstappen’s ability to manage his tires and negotiate through traffic contributes to this edge. Perez has lagged well behind the Dutchman, and the point difference speaks for itself. The Mexican has missed out on Q3 6 times in 12 races this season, and Marko acknowledges that Sergio does well in the race, “but his weak point is qualifying.”

Helmut Marko says Max Verstappen could take Pole Position with a Haas or AlphaTauri in wet/drying conditions:

"If such conditions exist, he puts an AlphaTauri or Haas – which is a qualifying car – on Pole."#F1 pic.twitter.com/zYzg9rTb2e
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) August 12, 2023

Red Bull’s meticulous car development and Verstappen’s exceptional talent have merged harmoniously, creating a symphony of triumph on the racetrack. On the other hand, Ferrari and Mercedes find themselves out of step, grappling with issues that cast a shadow over their former glory. As the summer break draws near its end, it remains to be seen if Ferrari or Mercedes, or some other team will break the unbeaten streak of Red Bull.