Red Bull’s double retirement in the opening race of the 2022 Formula 1 season did not please anyone in the team. Helmut Marko , consultant for the energy drink brand, was also not happy with the result.
However, after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, not even worry about the attack less than 20 kilometers from the Jeddah track could dampen his spirits. Max Verstappen won the race and both he and the RB18 look poised to defend the drivers’ title won by the Dutchman in 2021.
Marko has no problem openly showing that he is “very happy” that Red Bull’s rival in 2022 is Ferrari, at least with the tests that exist at the moment, and not Mercedes.
“There is a completely different atmosphere” says the Austrian in an interview with ServusTV .
Marko refers to details such as those left by Charles Leclerc during and after his fight with Verstappen for victory in Jeddah. A tooth and nail fight on the track turned to praise from the Ferrari driver, who was heard congratulating his rival shortly after crossing the finish line.
“Max has done very well. That has been good,” the Monegasque said on the radio.
Marko dared to compare his team with the Scuderia. “Ferrari is similar to us. There is passion, there is emotion, sportsmanship and respect. And it shows in all areas,” said the Milton Keynes adviser.
“We have a rival relationship, but with sporting rules. And that is not only noticeable in the drivers, but also in the set-up or in the technical interpretation. With Ferrari you can exchange ideas, it’s good.”
In sporting terms, he assures that he sees Ferrari as the toughest rival in the fight for the title of world champion. “He has the most versatile car. He is fast in any circumstance, with any type of tyre, in any temperature,” analyzes Marko.
He also launches to analyze the pair of pilots of the Italians. The Maranello team boasts Leclerc in its ranks, one of the most appreciated young talents in the paddock, who seems to have returned to his best form after a somewhat uneven 2021. On the other hand, there is Carlos Sainz , who for one reason or another, has been behind his teammate in the first two races of the season.
Marko does not hide that he is not happy that Ferrari had things so clear at this start of the season, as he had hopes that they would take points away from each other.
“Last year Sainz beat Leclerc, but this year the Monegasque is in top form. That means we can’t expect any help from Sainz (Leclerc). So it will be a situation like ours, where there is a number one driver. a very clear one,” he said.
The Red Bull adviser also has words for Mercedes . He considers that the Germans will have to “forget” the performance of Lewis Hamilton in Saudi Arabia, where he fell in Q1 and could only be tenth in the race.
He claims that Hamilton had “screwed up the set-up and at times I was driving like I was on ice. I’m sure they’ll fix it over the course of the next few races. I’m sure they will. And this will probably end in a three-way fight.” bands,” he concluded.
