Helmut Marko Critiques McLaren’s ‘Better Copying’ Amid Red Bull’s F1 Rivalry Intensification

Helmut Marko takes a swipe at McLaren for imitating Red Bull in their 2024 F1 vehicle design.

Helmut Marko has taken a swipe at McLaren, suggesting "some are better at copying" to describe why Red Bull's lead in the F1 standings has diminished in 2024.

In the past three races, Red Bull has missed out on the top spot twice.

Lando Norris emerged victorious in Miami, and although the Safety Car's intervention played to his advantage, he was undoubtedly the quickest driver on the circuit.

Likewise, Charles Leclerc emerged as the top contender in Monaco's race the previous weekend.

McLaren and Ferrari have ramped up their efforts throughout the season, rolling out major improvements in the latest competitions.

Conversely, Red Bull opted not to follow suit, instead choosing a somewhat distinct vehicle design at the beginning of the year.

Marko believes that Red Bull's competitors are gaining on them due to imitation.

Marko told the Austrian outlet OE24, "We're entering the third year under these rules, and imitation is happening."

"Improved replication is evident in McLaren's current outcomes. Similarly, Ferrari has continued to advance steadily."

"Our pair of racers arrived in Monte Carlo filled with excitement, praising the car's performance on the curbs. However, the moment they got behind the wheel, their tune changed to: 'impossible to drive!'"

At Imola, Red Bull barely secured victory, with Max Verstappen crossing the finish line a mere 0.7 seconds before Norris.

Nevertheless, McLaren intends to observe Red Bull's performance in both Canada and Spain prior to deciding if they are on equal footing.

"Stella mentioned to media outlets such as Crash.net that Red Bull's competitive edge isn't entirely apparent to him. He pointed out that circuits like Imola and Monaco, where handling kerbs and bumps effectively is crucial for good performance, showcase this. Miami also has elements of this, but to a lesser degree."

"In my opinion, the advancement we've seen isn't solely due to our increased competitiveness in certain areas. I believe it's more authentic than that – it's about the significant downforce we've managed to integrate into the vehicle."

"Undoubtedly, the primary issue troubling our pair of drivers is their dissatisfaction with how the car handles kerbs and bumps on the Monaco track."

Explore Further

Recent Updates

Recent Updates

Site Navigation

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

Reproducing text, photos, or illustrations in full or in part is strictly prohibited in any manner.