P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has offered his assessment after the floor upgrades introduced in the United States.
Helmut Marko gave a positive evaluation of Red Bull’s recent upgrades in the United States Grand Prix, following Max Verstappen securing sprint pole position. With their RB20 car’s performance dropping during the summer, Red Bull introduced significant floor upgrades in Austin, in addition to a package debuted in the Azerbaijan GP in September. Verstappen capitalized on the new parts to secure his first pole position since the Austrian GP in June, while also posting the fastest qualifying time in Belgium before incurring an engine penalty. This development, along with title rival Lando Norris placing fourth for the sprint race, presents a favorable opportunity for Verstappen to extend his 52-point lead over the McLaren driver, as Marko expressed enthusiasm for the effectiveness of the new upgrades. Marko noted that the success was a combination of the upgrades themselves, Verstappen’s skill, and the characteristics of the circuit, signaling progress in technical improvements for Red Bull since the Baku race. Looking ahead, Marko anticipates that the performance demonstrated in Austin can be replicated at other fast circuits remaining on the calendar this season, as the small performance gaps at the front suggest continued competitiveness.
