Helmut Marko has warned that Red Bull may not be able to play to their key strengths at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, presenting an opportunity for their rivals. The Milton Keynes-based squad have enjoyed a dominant start to the 2023 F1 season, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez claiming three and two race wins respectively out of the five Grands Prix so far. Red Bull hold a 122-point lead over Aston Martin in the Constructors' Championship, but Marko is expecting the team to potentially face a more challenging weekend around the streets of Monte Carlo.
Red Bull cannot use 'advantage' in Monaco
"We can't play to our racing strengths in Monaco," Marko told German outlet Motorsport-Magazin.com . "Whoever drives in front sets the pace. Tyre wear will not be decisive. There are no straights where our speed advantage comes into play." While Ferrari have struggled to match the pace of Red Bull during the 2023 season so far, Marko believes that the Scuderia could be strong in Monaco. "What we have seen so far, Ferrari are sometimes faster than Red Bull in the slow corners," the team advisor said. However, Marko is looking forward to watching the action unfold: "It will be exciting. Let's see."
Can Alonso pose a challenge?
Charles Leclerc has previously claimed pole position on F1's last visits to Monaco in 2021 and 2022, though this did not translate into a successful race for the Monegasque. Despite this, Marko expects that a good performance in qualifying could be crucial. "The biggest advantage is the quick tyre warm-up and I think that can be decisive on the qualifying lap," the Austrian commented. As well as predicting a challenge from Ferrari, Marko also believes that Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso could be in the fight. "Alonso is always good," he added. "The handicap of lacking top speed doesn't matter in Monte Carlo. And if they have a good weekend where they're immediately up front in qualifying, he's certainly a candidate."
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