Marko suspects two Austria wins are ‘more realistic’

Mark Scott
Max Verstappen, Red Bull

Max Verstappen, Red Bull

Dr Helmut Marko has assessed the upcoming triple header and believes Austria could be the better hunting ground for Red Bull compared to France.

After six rounds of the 2021 World Championship, Red Bull find themselves in the unfamiliar position of leading both standings with Max Verstappen four points clear of Lewis Hamilton and the team are 26 points ahead of Mercedes in the Constructors’ battle.

Mercedes’ poor points return on the two street circuits in Monte Carlo and Baku has opened the door for Red Bull, but now that we are heading back to a more traditional racing track at Paul Ricard, there is an expectation that the dominant Mercedes we are all very much used to seeing will return this weekend.

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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is hopeful of “better fortunes” to come now that the W12 is away from street circuits and Verstappen himself is bracing himself for a “very strong” Mercedes to turn up at Paul Ricard.

And it appears that Red Bull’s motorsport advisor is also wary of a renewed threat from the Silver Arrows, suggesting it may be a case of taking as many points as possible in France before properly targeting the two home races in Austria at a track which is better suited to the Red Bull car.

“It’s going to be very close between the two,” Marko told RTL.

“Le Castellet is a circuit with its very own characteristics. It’s an atypical surface that doesn’t exist anywhere else. It all depends on the condition of the day and the temperature.

“I hope he manages two wins in Austria, that seems more realistic.”

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