Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s famous consultant, expresses cautious optimism for the 2024 Formula 1 season, acknowledging that while Red Bull’s supremacy is formidable, it might face challenges in select races.
Rivals Ferrari and Mercedes did not lose hope over the winter. During his rare F1 visit to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s chairman, John Elkann, remarked, “If you look at where we were a year ago, this championship started better.” Elkann hints at a long-term strategy, indicating a potential shift in Ferrari’s fortunes with the advent of new engine and chassis regulations, stating, “The important thing is to always try to improve and progress. In 2026 a cycle will close, then another will open.”
The anticipation of Lewis Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes to Ferrari has ignited hopes within the Italian team. Elkann believes Hamilton’s move signals his confidence in achieving significant milestones with Ferrari, saying, “Lewis joining Ferrari is a sign that he believes he can do great things with us.”
However, Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari’s team boss, acknowledges the gap to Red Bull, admitting progress in degradation but recognizing a lack of pace. “Overall, we have made a good step forward in terms of degradation – now we are finally consistent,” Vasseur commented. He further elaborated, “But we are missing a bit of pace compared to Red Bull – I would say two-three tenths in qualifying and something more in the race. So it’s not enough, we need another step forward. We have to be honest with ourselves.”
Mercedes’ team principal, Toto Wolff, also faces up to the challenges with his new 2024 car, describing the situation as “not good.” Wolff especially notes a significant time loss in fast corners without understanding the underlying issue. “It’s not that we don’t try,” he mentioned, “but in three fast corners we lose half a second. We don’t know why we do that. We’re going around in circles,” highlighting the team’s ongoing struggle for clarity over the past two years.
Despite internal challenges at Red Bull, Max Verstappen remains the clear frontrunner, overshadowing his competitors. Marko praised Verstappen’s ability to isolate himself from external distractions, emphasizing his laid-back approach towards racing. “The way Max closes himself off from everything else that is going on is great,” Marko observed. He added, “What impressed me the most is that he didn’t even ask to do the fastest race lap in the final stint. He just wanted to drive quietly to the finish. He’s so relaxed right now.”
However, Marko acknowledged the potential downside for spectators when races lack competition at the front, despite Red Bull’s dominance. “It may not be good for the spectator,” he admitted, “but we were superior. You have to admit that,” revealing the sentiment during an interview with Sky Deutschland. He humorously noted their recent victory margin to ORF, saying, “I think we only won by 19 seconds this time.”
Marko remains realistic about Red Bull’s prospects for repeating their near-perfect 2023 season, though. He highlighted specific challenges at circuits where qualifying plays a pivotal role, such as Monaco and Singapore. “It becomes much more difficult at circuits where qualifying is crucial, such as Monaco and Singapore,” he cautioned, further explaining, “In Saudi Arabia, Max again owed his pole position only to an extraordinary lap. If that doesn’t work somewhere, and we are not able to start at the front, then we certainly may not win.”
GMM
