Marko asserts that Piastri is 'struggling with the pressure of the title.'

      "At least, that’s how it appeared recently."

      Dr. Helmut Marko suspects that championship leader Oscar Piastri is struggling with pressure, even as Red Bull faces its own challenges during a tough Mexican Grand Prix weekend. Despite modifications to the RB21, Max Verstappen could only secure fifth place in qualifying, while Piastri finished eighth, later promoted to P7 following Carlos Sainz’s penalty. However, not all news is negative for Red Bull, with Lando Norris emerging as the faster McLaren driver yet still ranked below his teammate in the standings, allowing Verstappen to benefit even without a victory.

      "Naturally, we still need McLaren’s assistance," Marko told Kleine Zeitung. "It seems that Piastri might not be managing the pressure well, at least based on recent appearances, although I don’t know him well enough to confirm that." Marko acknowledges that Red Bull's expectations in Mexico are modest. "If everything aligns perfectly, a podium could be achievable," he continued. "We aim to gain points on Oscar Piastri, but it looks as though we may lose points to Norris, which will bring the standings even closer. The pressure will persist."

      Verstappen has maintained his composure throughout his recent recovery, but he was straightforward regarding the car's performance post-qualifying. "We struggled in all areas here," he stated to Viaplay. "Sector two was particularly poor. Just review my onboard footage – it was strangely bad. There was no balance, no grip, and I anticipate it will be even more challenging in the race tomorrow." Marko concurred that McLaren's driver on pole may be unattainable in Mexico. "Considering Norris’s pace during long runs, he’ll pull ahead," the 82-year-old predicted. "I believe Norris is unbeatable here, but anything can happen."

      Regarding Piastri, the Australian's recent performances have raised questions among those at McLaren and within the paddock. His once-significant points lead has been reduced to just 40 – down from 104 following Red Bull’s management overhaul. "The last two weekends have felt different from the previous ones," Piastri acknowledged to Sky Italia. "I lack the pace. Everything seemed normal and the work felt adequate, but I'm just not getting the time. It's an undesirable situation. The primary issue is regaining rhythm – right now, I’m not focused on the championship." He denied feeling pressured. "Nothing feels particularly different," he stated. "I believe I’m driving the same way I did when things were going better. I’m trying to understand this, as the numbers just don’t add up."

      Team principal Andrea Stella defended his young driver, asserting that the challenge is mechanical rather than psychological. "I’m sure everyone contending for the World Championship faces pressure," Stella remarked. "Oscar is quite a relaxed individual. I don’t think he’s overexerting himself. It’s more a matter of maximizing the car’s performance when it’s slipping. There are no mistakes in his laps – it’s about capturing those last milliseconds in every corner."