Helmut Marko: Leclerc is the favorite for the Monaco Grand Prix

      Former Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko recently shared in an interview how he is enjoying retirement, praised Mercedes, and named Charles Leclerc as the favorite for the Monaco Grand Prix.

      Question: Mr. Marko, what does your Formula 1 race weekend look like now that you are retired?

      Helmut Marko: More relaxed than I imagined. I have new projects alongside my hotels in Graz, so now I only watch the qualifying and the races. I'm not excited about the new regulations. Although they have already been adapted, we still don't see the races I was used to and that fans want to see.

      Question: So you left at the right moment?

      Helmut Marko: I really wanted to win the fifth title with Max Verstappen, but after we failed to do that, my inner fire went out. That fire is necessary to be successful in Formula 1 and to push everything else to the background.

      For example, constant travel never really bothered me, but only now do I realize how pleasant life can be when you are no longer rushing from one flight to another and are not continuously in this race. Now I am an ordinary fan and much more relaxed. You can already tell by the fact that in the morning after getting up, I spend much more time in the bathroom.

      Question: Back to Formula 1. Will anyone be able to challenge Mercedes this year? Or will they not face serious resistance throughout the season?

      Helmut Marko: There is no doubt that at the moment Mercedes is the best team. They have the best engine, and they also set the pace thanks to the battery. For the first time since 2021, they managed to build a competitive chassis, and they have a very strong pair of drivers.

      I especially like how young Kimi Antonelli literally makes the car fly. But George Russell is a more experienced driver, and he will respond to his teammate. The only hope for the others is that they start battling each other within the team. Otherwise, Mercedes will be out of reach.

      Question: Even this weekend in Monaco?

      Helmut Marko: In Monaco, they will have a tough time due to the slow corners. I consider Charles Leclerc the favorite. He will be racing on his home track, and I see him as the main contender for pole position. In Monaco, whoever starts first usually wins the race.