Helmut Marko: Red Bull in contention for F1 Italian GP win – on one condition

Marko was unusually bullish after the opening practice sessions at Monza

Helmut Marko believes Red Bull has an actual chance to win the Italian Grand Prix, despite the team’s recent struggles and Monza not being its most favorable Formula 1 track.

Red Bull is on an eight-round winless streak and had a dismal Italian GP last year, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez finishing the race down in sixth and eighth respectively.

However, Friday’s free practice has given Red Bull advisor Marko cause for hope, as Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda took sixth and ninth with respective two-tenth and four-tenth deficits to FP2 pacesetter Lando Norris.

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Marko hailed “an incredible increase compared to last year” – Verstappen and Perez were nine tenths off in the same session – and added: “We hope to fight with some others for the win.”

The Austrian did clarify this depended on McLaren not making a significant step forward overnight, explaining Red Bull would contend for victory “if McLaren doesn't show up with something extra tomorrow”.

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Marco Bertorello / AFP via Getty Images

The Ferrari and Williams cars were in the mix with McLaren and Red Bull in FP2, but Marko discounted them from the battle for victory. He insinuated that the Scuderia was just having glory runs on its turf – “we are in Monza, so Ferrari on Friday is always very good” – and said Williams was lacking consistency, with ‘up-and-down’ long runs.

Marko admitted that despite Verstappen’s “very impressive” long run, Red Bull had “still a lot to do” regarding qualifying pace, but said the team was “very, very satisfied”, particularly in terms of tyre wear.

“We only need more traction on the soft tyre, but that I think we can achieve without changing the wing position,” Marko explained.

Key to the team’s progress was learning the lessons from its 2024 struggle at the Italian track in terms of set-up – “we have a different philosophy now” – and widening the operating window of the RB21. “Yuki, when the car is more predictable, is quite close to Max,” Marko pointed out.

The Red Bull advisor is expecting Tsunoda to reach Q3 on Saturday, something the Japanese driver has failed to do in nine of the last 10 qualifying sessions (sprint included).