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Max Verstappen delivered a remarkable comeback in Brazil, climbing from a pit lane start to finish third. Red Bull was understandably proud of the Dutchman’s performance, but according to Helmut Marko, the team still has major weaknesses to address.
Verstappen travelled to Interlagos in optimistic spirits, but he quickly discovered that the RB20 was far from competitive. His qualifying session ended with a disappointing sixteenth place, a blow to both his confidence and his shrinking title hopes.
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Red Bull decided to take drastic action. They swapped Verstappen’s engine and changed his setup, breaking parc fermé rules and forcing him to start from the pit lane. After an early stop for a puncture, Verstappen sliced his way through the field, caught the leading group, overtook George Russell for third, and finished just short of Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
What Is Going Wrong at Red Bull?
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko praised Verstappen’s performance but admitted that the underlying issues are worrying. Speaking to Sky Sports Germany, he said: “We need to widen our operating window. Even the smallest changes — for example, a four-degree temperature difference between sessions — can send everything in the wrong direction. The same goes for ride height and how all those elements work together.”
“We Need to Straighten Things Out”
Marko sees plenty of work ahead. With only three race weekends remaining, he says Red Bull must urgently act. “The difference between our simulator data and reality is simply too big,” he explained. “And the fact that it’s so far apart again… I hope we can straighten things out in the last three races.”
Three Races to Go
The Formula 1 season continues in two weeks with the Las Vegas Grand Prix. From there, the paddock heads to Qatar — another Sprint weekend — before the season concludes in Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina.
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