Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko commented on the dramatic events at the Austrian Grand Prix and denied rumours that Red Bull was having trouble creating a power unit for 2026.
Q: Mr Marko, what do you think of the Austrian Grand Prix?
Helmut Marko: It was hot – both weather-wise and track-wise. It’s good that it’s cooler now and everyone has calmed down.
Q: When we spoke a week ago, you were hoping Mercedes would take points from your rivals. And so it happened…
Helmut Marko: True, but winning would be better. In any case, we have strengthened our leadership in the individual championship and in the constructors’ championship. This is the second best option available.
Q: After the race you said that the collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris was unnecessary. How do you evaluate that incident a few days later?
Helmut Marko: It is unfortunate that Norris said several unpleasant things in radio conversations with the team. I would call it a racing incident. Although Norris most likely crossed the line.
Q: What about Verstappen’s friendship with Norris?
Helmut Marko: Norris’ comments about Max needing to apologize don’t really help. But they will meet and talk everything through.
Q: Didn’t they have a chance to talk on the way off the track?
Helmut Marko: No. Usually they fly together, but this time with different planes. Max flew back calmly.
Q: Can you explain the atypical series of errors for Red Bull that cost Max the win?
Helmut Marko: It all started with a bad pit stop, after which Max suddenly lost control of the tires and Norris suddenly ended up in the DRS zone.
Q: What exactly went wrong during the pit stop?
Helmut Marko: The nut is stuck, but that can happen. We made more than fifty pit stops within two seconds, and some of them played a decisive role in victory or defeat. So now I don’t blame anyone, this will be resolved quickly.
Q: They say Verstappen makes mistakes under pressure?
Helmut Marko: As mentioned, Max suddenly lost grip when he drove away on a rolled-in set of tires. He didn’t go off the track, but he did lose time.
Q: What will you be doing at Silverstone?
Helmut Marko: We are fighting and preparing updates for the car. I always say that our goal is the championship title, and the race in Austria helped us get closer to that.
Q: Will Mercedes be a serious contender for victory in the next races?
Helmut Marko: They are already on their way, but I don’t see how they can win without the help of external factors.
Question: The war of words in the press between Christian Horner, Jos Verstappen and Toto Wolff wasn’t serious, was it?
Helmut Marko: I agree. I don’t play these games. We want to win the title and for that we have to combine all our strengths.
Q: Given all this, could Verstappen have lost interest in driving for Red Bull?
Helmut Marko: As long as Red Bull gives Max a car that can win and there is some harmony in the team, will he honour his contract?
Q: But what if Mercedes gives him a car that can win?
Helmut Marko: If, if, if… This is not the case now.
Q: They say you had problems making an engine for 2026…
Helmut Marko: Guess who’s spreading these rumors. We’re working right on schedule.
Q: Is there a backup plan if the new engine doesn’t work?
Helmut Marko: No, our engine should work. The drivetrain is affected by many factors, such as fuel, battery, etc. It will be interesting to see who comes out first. But if we talk about the amount of horsepower, we will definitely be among the leaders.
Source: F1 News

I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.