Marko: McLaren is 'a second quicker' as we approach 2025.

      "They were attempting to conceal"

      By GMM

      12 March 2025 - 10:22

      Dr. Helmut Marko, Max Verstappen’s boss and mentor, along with Jos Verstappen, the Red Bull driver’s father, both concur that the four-time world champion is entering the 2025 season without the most competitive car. Despite the ongoing situation involving Christian Horner, Verstappen senior stated that he and his 27-year-old son still maintain their "confidence" in Red Bull. "However, if things don’t go well," Jos told Radio Joe, "it’s not Max."

      For over a year now, there has been quiet speculation that Verstappen might activate a contract exit clause to join Mercedes or Aston Martin in 2026. It is rumored that Adrian Newey has persuaded Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll to extend a long-term offer to Verstappen, potentially valued at up to a billion dollars.

      "Adrian Newey is a pure racer and an intelligent person," Red Bull advisor Marko stated on Servus TV. "His primary desire is to have the fastest driver. Max was tempted, but ultimately his goal is to win. Everyone in Formula 1 recognizes that Newey is a genius, but success doesn’t happen instantly; he needs a solid team around him. I don’t foresee Max leaving anytime soon."

      However, according to Jos Verstappen, everything hinges on the performance of Red Bull’s car in 2025. "Red Bull must continue to excel," he said. "They need to consistently build a competitive vehicle—that is essential."

      On the first day of recent pre-season testing, Max initially expressed enthusiasm about the improvements made by Red Bull over the winter. "After that, they changed components and so forth," Jos explained. "He then felt the car was not as good as before. They reverted to the original specifications, but he couldn’t regain the sensation he had on Wednesday."

      Jos speculates whether Red Bull "does not fully grasp the issue" or has "not implemented the correct solutions" to resolve the 2024 handling problems. "To put it plainly," Verstappen’s father remarked, "he was not content."

      Marko does not dispute that Jos’ evaluation is largely accurate, yet he believes Max can manage regardless, even if McLaren or a few others are marginally faster. "Max Verstappen will still be the world champion in 2025," he asserted. "Max doesn’t necessarily need the fastest car—though he would prefer that. But he must adapt to competing now. He can make up a lot of ground, but not half a second," Marko added.

      "The objective for 2025 was to establish a broader usable range for the car so that drivers can feel more confident," the Austrian explained. "We have achieved this, albeit not perfectly."

      He conceded that, based on the testing in Bahrain, McLaren should easily secure a win on Sunday. "In endurance runs, they were a second faster. If they can replicate that in Australia, which has completely different circuit conditions, it will be a one-two finish for McLaren."

      "McLaren also displayed clear superiority in qualifying simulations, even though they didn’t reveal it. They went out and set the fastest times in the first and second sectors, then suddenly returned to the pits," he reported. "They weren’t leading the speed traps either, indicating they hadn’t used their full engine power yet. They were trying to keep it under wraps. So, we will see in Australia."