Marko throws in the towel over Red Bull F1 title hopes

Helmut Marko has appeared to throw in the towel over Red Bull's hopes of retaining its constructors' championship in 2024.

After a strong start to the season with seven wins from the first 10 races, Red Bull has not won since the Spanish GP, where it held a 60-point lead over Ferrari and a 93-point buffer to McLaren. 

McLaren assumed top spot in the standings in Azerbaijan ending Red Bull's run at the top of the table that had stretched back to the 2022 Spanish GP, as the RB20 suffered a massive drop-off in performance.

Ferrari has since overtaken Red Bull as well, with just 29 points now between it and leaders McLaren with four rounds left, with Red Bull 54 points behind the Woking concern - with both teams having faster cars than Red Bull. 

Its misery is also compounded by Sergio Perez's crisis of confidence and the fact he has scored just 47 points in the 13 races since Imola as the four drivers from McLaren and Ferrari have won the last six races between them.

Reflecting on the situation, Red Bull motorsport advisor Marko believes the constructors' title to be out of Red Bull's grasp.

"We have lost that title," Marko told OE24 of the constructors' championship. 

"Ferrari in its current form is out of our reach and they can even catch up with McLaren."

Marko on drivers' title

As for the drivers', Marko seemed more optimistic, and hoped that the engine penalty Max Verstappen would be taking in Brazil could prove beneficial, as he holds a 47 point lead over Lando Norris.

"I'm not that relaxed about it," he said.

"We will need a new engine and will therefore receive an engine penalty [of five places for a new internal combustion engine].

"The good thing is that we'll have a few more horsepower and hopefully more speed. You can also overtake well in Brazil."