Helmut Marko believes it will not be long before Red Bull reclaims its dominance over McLaren, warning that the reigning champions should be back to their best by the time Formula 1 arrives at Imola.
Marko outlined why Red Bull remains confident despite Oscar Piastri’s victory over Max Verstappen in Jeddah. The post-race spotlight was firmly placed on Verstappen’s penalty, which dropped him behind Piastri after a fierce battle into Turn 1. Verstappen argued that he was forced off track by Piastri and should not have been penalised, a sentiment Marko strongly echoed.
“I think it was a racing incident,” Marko told Motorsport.com. “In Formula 2, the same situation happened three or four times and nobody got five seconds. It was the first lap, first corner. For me, it was racing.”
Red Bull opted not to instruct Verstappen to give the place back, believing that staying ahead and relying on pit stop strategy offered the best chance of victory.
In Marko’s view, the penalty cost Verstappen a certain win: “Max had the speed. The positive thing is, our tires behaved very well, we didn’t have any degradation.”
Red Bull upgrades bringing confidence
Despite the setback, Marko pointed to a significant improvement in Red Bull’s race pace compared to Bahrain, highlighting that the RB21 performed better at Jeddah thanks to its preference for fast corners.
More from the Singapore GP
Catch up with Total Motorsport's latest Singapore GP coverage, including Max Verstappen's victory at Marina Bay, Ferrari's costly strategy gamble, the full race classification, and the updated 2026 Formula 1 Drivers' and Constructors' Championship standings.
“We were surprised, but positively surprised – and it was on both the medium and the hard tyres,” Marko said.
Red Bull’s trajectory appears to be on an upward curve, with more development upgrades coming over the next few races.
“We are moving forward and getting a car which is more predictable and is also working in a wider range,” Marko added. “By Imola, we should have the speed to beat the McLarens.”
Marko acknowledged that Verstappen’s start in Saudi Arabia was disappointing and uncharacteristic, particularly because race starts are usually one of the Dutchman’s greatest strengths.
“It was phase two where he was losing out,” Marko said. “But he braked later and was ahead.”
When asked about Verstappen’s frustration over the penalty, Marko empathised, saying: “He would have won the race. That’s clear.”
Cautious optimism for Miami GP
Marko also gave his assessment of Yuki Tsunoda’s weekend, noting progress but also areas for improvement. After Tsunoda’s collision with Pierre Gasly on the opening lap, Marko deemed it “a racing incident,” expressing disappointment that Tsunoda was denied a points finish.
“In free practice, when the pressure is not so high, he’s missing two or three tenths,” Marko explained. “In qualifying, he’s a little bit overdriving, but he’s on the way to perform and bring the points we needed.”
As for Red Bull’s prospects at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, Marko was cautiously optimistic despite McLaren’s strength in hot conditions.
“The race is not at lunchtime, so normally the sun goes down,” Marko said. “We see some sort of performance. We can also be competitive in Miami.”
With upgrades in the pipeline and Verstappen’s raw speed undiminished, Marko’s message is clear: Red Bull’s rivals should enjoy their moment at the front while it lasts.
