Red Bull Racing stand by Verstappen to provide him the material for the 2025 title battle

11:28, 06 Jun

Updated: 11:37, 06 Jun

byKada Sarkozi

Helmut Marko explained Red Bull Racing still has faith in Max Verstappen securing his fifth F1 world championship in a row In 2025. The top advisor underlined that the team will continue to focus on the current campaign as long as the Dutchman has a chance of finishing in first place.

Verstappen is currently 49 points McLaren driver Oscar Piastri in the standings, after the Australian won the Spanish Grand Prix. On the other hand, after his collision with George Russell, a 10-second penalty relegated the Red Bull driver to 10th place.

According to top advisor Helmut Marko, there is still a lot of work to do, he wrote in his column for Speedweek.

"The biggest disappointment was that, despite the stricter wing tests, we have not come closer to McLaren. We still lack three to four tenths of a second. We had hoped to close the gap in Barcelona, but unfortunately, that did not happen."

"McLaren remains firmly in the lead, but the rest have moved closer together. Mercedes and Ferrari have caught up with us, and the midfield has also gotten closer."

Marko also underlined is what favours Verstappen is the two McLaren drivers taking points off of each other, as they hope to secure the world title as well.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris achieved a 1-2 finish for McLaren during the Spanish Grand Prix

Marko sets important target for Red Bull Racing

Marko also sees that compete against the Woking-based team's drivers, the RB21 has to be improved, and competitive consistently. "Against the currently very strong McLaren team, you only have a chance if everything goes perfectly. We have the perfect driver, but all elements must align: pit stops, strategy, the car, and tyre management."

"It's about getting the car into the right operational window and the tires up to temperature. Maybe just a minor adjustment is needed. We often start weak at the weekend on Friday, but manage to get the car better for qualifying - sometimes good enough for a podium or even a win. However, what we lack is the consistent form that McLaren has."

Verstappen managed to win two races this year: at both Suzuka and Imola he was able to celebrate victory.

Red Bull Racing continue to focus on the 2025 title

Red Bull Racing are doing everything possible to provide Verstappen with a competitive car this year.

"We continue to make small adjustments, but major changes are not planned for now. In the past, we had larger updates, like a new floor and new sidepods. Now it's about detail work. We will continue to develop as long as there is still a chance for the title. Afterward, the focus will completely shift to the project for 2026," he continued.

Still, the team does not lose sight of the new regulations that come into effect next year

Next year, with the new regulations, the grid order can change completely. The 82-year-old Austrian also added that the team's engine is on schedule. "Not only is the combustion engine important, but the battery also plays a key role. The energy injection, the accompanying software, and even the fuel are crucial factors. The battery involves weight and cooling as well. Now there's already speculation about who will take the lead, but you really only know once the engine is tested on the circuit," the Red Bull advisor concluded.

This article was written in collaboration with Mitchell van der Hoef