In Bahrain, Dr. Helmut Marko was unable to contain his laughter at Fernando Alonso’s self-assured declaration that Max Verstappen would win another title. According to Alonso’s evaluation, which is based on preseason testing, competitors—aside from Verstappen—have a poor season ahead of them.
According to Marko, who spoke with Kronen Zeitung, Alonso’s prediction represents a harsh reality: “That’s realistic.” Marko nodded, alluded to the return of Ferrari and the possible threat posed by Charles Leclerc. “Seriously, I think Ferrari has gotten stronger, and it could get close between Max and (Charles) Leclerc, who is one of the best qualifiers in qualifying,” he said.
The true surprise, though, is Red Bull’s sustained dominance—achieved with a revolutionary new car design evocative of Mercedes’ shelved idea from 2022–2023. “The most surprising thing about Red Bull’s preseason form, though, isn’t that the team is still leading—rather, it’s that they’ve done it with a new concept car that’s reminiscent of the 2022–2023 Mercedes concept,” noted Marko.
Mercedes, which is also dealing with its own problems, such as “bouncing,” appears to have taken up a similar idea, though less successfully. Mercedes now has a Red Bull concept car that looks more like 2023, although George Russell acknowledged that the team’s problems with “bouncing” haven’t completely disappeared.
The mystery is increased by reports that Red Bull may unveil an even more revolutionary overhaul in Suzuka in April, shocking analysts like Timo Glock with their audacity. It’s a slap in the face for Mercedes, who chased the idea for two years before having to give it up because they didn’t get it, said Glock.
Red Bull’s technological advancement is a sharp reminder of their superiority over Mercedes and Ferrari. Carlos Sainz acknowledged feeling under pressure while pointing out Red Bull’s obvious developmental edge. “First impressions are that they are six months or a year ahead,” said Sainz.
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