Red Bull provides Verstappen with fresh weapon for Norris fight

Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko has confirmed the team will bring upgrades to Silverstone as the Milton Keynes-based squad looks to claw back lost ground.

Lead driver Max Verstappen has been run close by Lando Norris consistently of late, with the two coming to blows at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Now, ahead of the British Grand Prix, the Dutchman looks set to be further aided in his attempts to stave off the McLaren driver.

The constructors' champions began 2024 in the dominant fashion it ended 2023 in, but following the Chinese Grand Prix, rival teams have managed to get Red Bull in their cross-hairs.

Marko feels the difference between the theory and reality of the RB20 is the root of the team's current issue, but is hopeful the update at the British Grand Prix will go some way to help re-establish its advantage.

"We've been struggling with these problems since China and somewhere you get to a point where you don't know where they came from," the Austrian told Kleine Zeitung. 

"Mercedes has struggled with this for a long time and Aston Martin is struggling with it at the moment. But we weren't used to that before."

"We don't know where in the technology or the simulator the difference between theory and reality is.

"The car has potential and until China we were superior. We thought it would be an easy season, just boring for the spectators. But we are working on it and there will be an update at Silverstone. It has to be right, because otherwise it will be difficult."

Red Bull are now 'number two'

Ferrari began the current season as the clear number two team behind the at-first dominant RB20, but has since slipped back despite bringing comprehensive updates to Imola, which was the seventh round of the year.

McLaren, meanwhile, has re-passed the Scuderia in the pecking order and is undeniably the strongest car behind Red Bull. To some, including Marko, the MCL38 is now the chassis to beat.

With Mercedes now also looking to be ahead of the Italian team, he is quick to highlight the advantages of a revolving order of performance from those battling Red Bull.

"The balance of power behind us has changed so far. Ferrari was once the strongest chaser, now it's McLaren, and Mercedes is coming back into the mix," the 81-year-old contended.

"But McLaren in particular has made up a lot of ground and has a better car than we have, especially in terms of setup. 

"Their car works on every track and with every type of tyre. We have had problems in the last few races and it has taken us a long time to find the balance. Right now, in terms of speed, we are number two."