Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has suggested that McLaren’s recent progress in Formula 1 has emanated from running a “well-executed copy” of the team’s RB20 car.
Both Ferrari and McLaren have developed their respective cars this season to the point where Red Bull are no longer in a position to dominate each race on the roster.
McLaren’s latest updates in Miami saw Lando Norris beat Max Verstappen, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc won in Monaco during a weekend where Red Bull struggled.
Marko believes that it was inevitable that rival teams would seek to replicate Red Bull’s concept and pointed out that Ferrari and McLaren have managed that the best.
“We are now in our third year with the current regulations, and people are copying,” Marko told Austrian publication OE24.
“Some copy better, and you can now see the result at McLaren. Ferrari has also constantly developed further.
“Our two drivers came to Monte Carlo enthusiastic and said that the car was great over the kerbs. But as soon as they were in the car, they said: Undriveable!”
Verstappen prevailed at Imola in between those two rival victories above, but Norris mounted a late charge in that race to wind up seven-tenths behind the Dutchman.
However, McLaren team boss Andrea Stella is unsure whether the Austrian outfit’s recent vulnerabilities have been genuine or circuit-specific traits being a hindrance.
Stella has hinted that having a car that can absorb the kerbs and bumps being instrumental at Imola and Monaco was the predominant factor behind Red Bull’s woes.
“I think the picture of competitiveness for Red Bull is not entirely clear to me,” explained the Italian.
“Clearly, Imola and Monaco are two tracks in which riding kerbs and riding bumps is important for performance. To some extent in Miami as well, but not that much.
“So I think, for instance, our progress, I don’t think is just because we are more competitive on these kinds of characteristics.
“I think that’s more genuine— it’s just we have added good downforce onto the car.
“If anything, our two drivers are not happy with the behaviour on kerbs and bumps, here in Monaco, that’s potentially the main limitation we still face.”
Stella is adamant that the Woking-based squad is waiting for further rounds to come to conclusions over whether it can battle Red Bull on a more consistent basis.
“But exactly what is going on with Red Bull? I’m not so sure,” he continued.
“I think we need a few more races to find out because obviously, we go [to the] next one to Canada, which is another one very demanding on kerbs and bumps.
“Then I think some tracks after Canada will tell us more about the competitiveness situation.”
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