Marko piles pressure on Perez with key McLaren comparison

Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko believes the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri is "currently definitely stronger" than what the Red Bull driver line-up offers.

Despite difficulties with the RB20, Max Verstappen remains undeniably competitive and has done well to preserve his drivers' championship lead to the extend he has.

With six rounds of the current F1 season to run, the Dutchman holds a 52-point advantage over Norris, who faces an uphill battle to claim his maiden title, even with the MCL38 currently the class of the field.

"At the moment, McLaren is fast on every track, with every tyre and at every temperature," Marko told RTL/ntv and sport.de, before adding the McLaren line-up is "currently definitely stronger than us."

And whilst Sergio Perez is undoubtedly the target of Marko's ire, the Austrian was quick to acknowledge the performance gap between Red Bull and McLaren, predicting the Woking-based team will at the least maintain its 41-point lead in the constructors' standings.

The 81-year-old added: "McLaren is fast everywhere and has two top drivers, but we expect to maintain this relatively comfortable lead and possibly even extend it."

'Max factor' is still a difference maker

Whilst the Red Bull has struggled with the development path of the RB20 throughout 2024, the Singapore Grand Prix provided some cause for optimism.

Having performed poorly by its high standards at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in recent years, Red Bull anticipated a difficult weekend. However, Verstappen's P2 in qualifying, which he converted in the race, showcased the underlying pace in the car.

If the Milton Keynes squad can take steps to addressing the imbalances and aerodynamic issues of the RB20 prior to the United States Grand Prix, the final six rounds of the year may be closer than expected.

Marko, who feels the upcoming schedule is "better suited to the RB20", believes there is a chance a true four-way fight emerges at the front of the pack and that McLaren may not necessarily have it all its own way.

If that does come to pass, he feels that is where Verstappen may come into his own, with a fourth drivers' title still firmly in his grasp.

"There's the fact that Mercedes can also have a winning car, depending on the type of track. Ferrari is also on the up. It could be that a four-way battle develops," Marko said.

"The big advantage is then the Max factor: if the cars are the same, it can deliver extra performance."