Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has teased that Red Bull has one more upgrade for its Formula 1 package as Max Verstappen bids for a fifth straight title win.
The Dutchman, aided by the team’s rapid improvements to its much-maligned RB21, has taken three wins in five races, the remainder supplemented by two second places.
In doing so, Verstappen has eaten into the title lead of both the papaya squad’s drivers, leaving himself now just 40 points behind Piastri, and 26 behind Norris.
It has naturally left many to speculate whether Verstappen will be able to win the title, with many believing he could overturn the deficit and take a fifth successive title
After the race, Marko told Austrian publication oe.24 that the deficit is now smaller, partly due to the feeling within the team at Milton Keynes-based squad.
“There’s a great atmosphere in the team right now,” he said, but added his admission that “Leclerc made life easy for us” in Austin, in reference to the Ferrari holding up Norris.
“You can see that McLaren no longer has that ease. Piastri also struggled a bit more today. I hope it stays that way.”
“There is no longer a track where we are not competitive,” adding: “And if there is, it’s Max who makes the difference.”
As last year proved, rain can be a great leveller, with more importance on the driver, as per last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix, where Verstappen’s brilliance outside proved crucial.
And with rain forecast for this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix, Marko is sure that would swing the balance in Red Bull’s favour against McLaren with Verstappen at the wheel.
‘That means it’s absolute Verstappen time!” he asserted.
‘We still have something up our sleeve. I don’t know exactly when it will come.’
READ MORE – Why Red Bull sees a role for Yuki Tsunoda in Max Verstappen’s F1 championship bid
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