P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Helmut Marko dismisses McLaren’s comments on their extended F1 development.
Helmut Marko rejected McLaren’s claim that extending the development of their 2025 F1 car could sacrifice Red Bull’s performance next year. Red Bull’s recent success, with Max Verstappen winning three of the past four races, has put him back in championship contention. Verstappen has reduced his points gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri from 104 to just 40 over the last four events. Red Bull brought new upgrades, including a new floor, to the Mexico City Grand Prix to support Verstappen’s title bid. McLaren has already shifted focus to 2026, while Red Bull continues with development for this season. Marko dismissed concerns about sacrificing 2026 success, highlighting Red Bull’s track record of success when rules change. The revised floor upgrade for the RB21 aims to improve cooling efficiency at the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, potentially boosting aerodynamic performance.
