Helmut Marko expressed disappointment after the Austrian Grand Prix, stating that McLaren’s dominant performance makes it difficult for Red Bull to compete for the championship. Both Marko and Christian Horner admitted that Red Bull’s performance at their home track fell short of expectations.
Despite setbacks like the yellow flag in qualifying and a collision on the opening lap, Max Verstappen acknowledged Red Bull’s overall shortcomings and the need for improvement. The team is facing challenges with outright pace, a narrow operating window, and tire management in comparison to McLaren.
The technical complexity of widening the car’s set-up window without compromising potential has presented a major hurdle for Red Bull. While updates are planned for upcoming races, closing the gap to McLaren in all three key areas remains a significant challenge for the team.
Both Marko and Horner highlighted McLaren’s superior tyre management as a crucial advantage, emphasizing the difficulty Red Bull faces in matching their competitor’s performance. Ultimately, Red Bull’s quest for championship contention is overshadowed by McLaren’s current dominance.
