As we gear up for an action-packed sprint weekend in Austria, an exciting race is anticipated. The rivalry between Lando Norris and Verstappen is expected to set the stage ablaze. Red Bull has one free practice session to perfect their setup and give McLaren a run for their money. Helmut Marko acknowledges that Norris is yet to match Verstappen’s skills.
Following a strategic spectacle in Barcelona, the 81-year-old Austrian has high hopes for the Grand Prix in his home country. Marko witnessed Max Verstappen take the honors in Spain, but not without Lando Norris hot on his heels – only a few seconds separated the top two. During the sprint weekend in Spielberg, Marko knows that Red Bull will need to hit the ground running.
Challenges Ahead in Austria
“We face a new challenge in Austria,” wrote Helmut Marko in his column for Speedweek.com. “Verstappen can always win, but the sprint format is treacherous. We only have one session to get our car in order. In the last few races, we needed all the practice sessions to adjust the balance, so it could be difficult.”
Expecting Resistance from McLaren
Marko expects plenty of resistance from McLaren, particularly Lando Norris. The latter has moved up to second place in the championship and is already predicting a title fight with his Dutch rival. “McLaren was very fast on the Red Bull Ring last year,” noted Marko. “Fortunately, Max always drives flawlessly, something Lando has yet to achieve. However, he is our biggest competitor.”
Hope for Competitive Mercedes
The Red Bull advisor hopes that Mercedes will also be competitive in Spielberg. The Germans can thus snatch points from the competition. “It would be nice if Mercedes becomes the second fastest team again,” he explained. “That would make a big difference for our world championship.”
Find out more about the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix.
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