Marko suggests that even a podium finish for Verstappen at Monza seems improbable.

      "You need to be realistic."

      Dr. Helmut Marko has cautioned that Red Bull may find it challenging to even secure a podium finish at Monza this weekend, despite the track layout appearing more advantageous compared to Zandvoort. Max Verstappen managed to finish second at his home Grand Prix, but both he and Marko now agree that the championship battle is effectively concluded.

      "Up front, (Oscar) Piastri will simply breeze through the next race - now that the championship seems settled for him," Marko told Osterreich newspaper. "You need to be realistic," the 82-year-old emphasized. "McLaren feels like they're from another planet. When they accelerate, they’re nearly three-quarters of a second faster per lap than us."

      "At least we've distanced ourselves from Ferrari and Mercedes - they are a second behind." Verstappen himself has acknowledged the possibility of not winning another race in 2025, but Marko is more hopeful. "On tracks like Baku, Austin, Jeddah, or Mexico, we could be competitive - the faster, the better," he stated.

      However, for Monza, Marko sees little potential for success. "It’s too early. Plus, there are too many chicanes," he elaborated. "Even reaching the podium will be a struggle for us against the McLarens."

      Looking ahead, Red Bull faces its biggest challenge yet with its inaugural in-house engine project for 2026, developed in partnership with Ford. Former team principal Christian Horner had indicated that there might be difficulties ahead.

      "If you consider the experience of our competitors, that may be accurate," Marko conceded. "But I say - let’s wait and see. The situation is so intricate that under the new regulations, anything could happen. There will be significant surprises, both good and bad. For now, I choose to think positively."