F1 News
Marko: "Verstappen isn't that far behind them either"
- GPblog.com
In the build-up to the 2020 Formula 1 season, Red Bull Racing often spoke of having 'the best preparation in years'. Once they arrived in Austria in July, the gap to Mercedes was still huge. There was much criticism of the team, but according to advisor Helmut Marko this is very unfair.
Best winter over recent years
"It's still been our best winter [of recent years]", Marko said in an interview with Motorsport.com. "Max Verstappen is the only driver who can keep up with Mercedes. The others are nowhere at all. And Verstappen isn't that far behind them either."
According to Marko, the team had problems after they suddenly had to introduce the first six planned updates all at once. "There was a catch."
Freezing parts
Marko says that the freezing of many parts in 2021 is the reason that Red Bull is developing very hard. Next year the 2020 car will have to be the starting point of the new car.
Red Bull's top advisor says that the chassis backlog is under control in the right circumstances. "But it is absolutely clear to us that our car also has to function in normal temperatures. I have just told Pierre Wache again that the car needs to improve even in cooler temperatures. There are still a lot of races coming in cooler conditions."