Marco: Max thinks it’s easier to defend

In an interview with OE24, Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko spoke about fighting for the championship title in the six remaining races…

Question: What could stop Norris from beating Verstappen for the title?
Helmut Marko: We have certainly improved in the last races, but we have to admit that recently we had the same problems as Ferrari and Mercedes: in some places the car worked, but in others not, and we don’t know the reason.

McLaren cars are consistently fast. But they probably waited too long to help Norris. As a result, he is still far behind Max, who we hope to give a more stable car. Our specialists have prepared new products and are optimistic.

Question: You recently confidently declared that Max will become world champion again…
Helmut Marko: Because he is the best, both mentally and on the court. Norris starts weak and is not very strong psychologically. The pressure will increase with every race, he has to win every time to eventually overtake us. Max believes it is easier to defend than to overtake, especially as the circuits in Austin and next week in Mexico City suit him.

Q: What does it take to be successful in Austin?
Helmut Marko: We have to find the optimal settings in one training session, which was not our strong point in the last stages. If Max wins again and Sergio is in the leading group, we will compete for the constructors’ championship again.

Question: Can you compare this final with 2009, when BAR’s Jenson Button lost points in every race at the end of the season, and Vettel at the wheel of Red Bull missed quite a bit…
Helmut Marko: Yes, these seasons are comparable. But at that moment we were not yet strong enough to win the World Cup. McLaren had the best car with Norris and Piastri and a strong pair of drivers, but we are also getting better.

Question: Perez is clearly behind Verstappen this year. Is it true that he is on probation for every race, despite being under contract for next season? Helmut Marko: Lack of stability is a big problem for Sergio, I don’t want to talk about it anymore.

Question: In the fuss surrounding team leader Christian Horner, your future and the future of Max Verstappen have already been discussed more than once. Now the team has made it clear that both of you will be staying in 2025. What’s next?
Helmut Marko: Right now we are completely focused on winning this championship. Our form in 2025 depends on this: the car will not fundamentally change in winter. Max has a contract with Red Bull for 2026, but as has often been said, it contains early exit clauses. Let’s see how everything turns out. If he doesn’t like the car and the situation, he can say: Enough!

Question: Are you going away with him then?
Helmut Marko: Once again: now I am completely focused on this World Cup.

Source: F1 News

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