Reigning champion Red Bull has faced stiff competition in recent races. Last year, they comfortably clinched both titles, but this year, several teams are giving the Austrian outfit a run for their money. McLaren, consistently finishing on the podium in the last few races, poses a significant threat to Red Bull. According to Helmut Marko, they are particularly good at emulating successful strategies.
Red Bull’s advisor observed his team only managed to secure eight points in Monaco – Max Verstappen finished sixth, while Sergio Pérez didn’t make it to the finish line. Meanwhile, rivals Ferrari and McLaren dominated the top four. Marko explained to OE24 why the gap with the competition is beginning to close. “We are now in our third year with these regulations,” he referred to the so-called ground effect cars of 2022. “Certain teams are starting to copy us.”
Marko particularly suspects McLaren of emulating Red Bull. “Some are better at it than others,” he continued. “You see that with McLaren. But Ferrari also continues to develop.” It’s not new for teams to copy each other, especially when certain regulations have been in effect for a while, teams start to adopt a uniform design. Red Bull – which was far ahead of the rest last year – is the prime example.
