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Photo: RacePictures.

Marko sends clear warning to McLaren in 2010 title outcome comparison

10:08, 06 Nov

byTobia Elia

Helmut Marko has warned McLaren about the title fight, citing the outcome of the 2010 season as a cautionary example.

"In the end, Sebastian was the laughing third. I hope for a parallel this year"

- Helmut Marko

Speaking to Krone, the Austrian advisor expressed hope for a parallel between what happened in Abu Dhabi fifteen years ago and this year’s championship: "It's crazy that this was 15 years ago. Every title has its own story, but the decisive thing back then was the success in the drivers' championship."

In that instance, the former Red Bull driver was also third in the championship heading into the final race — just like Verstappen finds himself now, chasing the two McLarens — with the German ultimately leaving Abu Dhabi as the victor, claiming the first world title of his career.

"He was behind Alonso and Webber in the world championship when it came to Abu Dhabi. In the end, Sebastian was the laughing third. I hope for a parallel this year."

Photo: RacePictures

Shifting the focus to recent race form and, more broadly, the upcoming Interlagos weekend, Marko hopes to repeat the same feat as last year.

"Although it didn't work out one hundred percent for us in Singapore and most recently in Mexico, we made up points on the respective leaders there." On five weekends in a row now. And now comes Brazil, where we took a very important step towards the title last year."

Finally, Marko highlighted that Red Bull is used to fighting for the championship right down to the wire: "We not only won the drivers' title in the last race in 2010, but also in 2012. And in 2021 with Max even in the very last lap. So we have a certain routine."

Marko claims Verstappen’s voice sparked RB21 surge

After a first half of the season that didn’t match McLaren’s level, the RB21 — especially since the summer break — has staged a remarkable performance revival, which Marko also credited to Verstappen, who has made an impact not only on track with his performances but also in guiding the car’s development.

Marko also placed significant credit on Dutchman for reigniting his championship hopes, noting that his feedback has been crucial for Red Bull’s engineers to regain their footing after the team’s slump in form during the first half of the 2024 season.

On the eve of the Interlagos weekend, Verstappen is chasing Lando Norris, who claimed the championship lead in Mexico by 36 points, with four races and two sprint events still to go.

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