Helmut Marko has refuted recommendations that Ferrari have the quicker automobile, however that doesn’t imply he believes Crimson Bull’s is forward.
Though Crimson Bull are dominating this yr’s championship standings, properly forward of Ferrari on each logs, the numbers don’t inform the complete story.
Ferrari’s F1-75, particularly within the arms of Charles Leclerc, has usually been the pace-setter with the Monégasque taking seven pole positions.
However in the case of Sundays, that’s when it goes incorrect for Ferrari which has allowed Crimson Bull to grab the benefit repeatedly, Max Verstappen as much as eight wins for the season with Sergio Perez on one.
Three of Verstappen’s wins, Spain, Baku and France, got here after Leclerc retired whereas operating P1 whereas one other, Hungary, noticed him take benefit after Ferrari dropped the ball with Leclerc’s technique.
However whereas it’s truthful to say that Crimson Bull have benefitted from Ferrari’s reliability points and technique blunders, Marko believes there may be little or no between their two vehicles.
“I don’t see it that method,” he stated in a wide-ranging interview with motorsport-total.com when requested if the F1-75 was quicker than the RB18. “Aside from Barcelona, we have been at all times on par with Ferrari this season.
“Usually the day’s kind determined who was finally in entrance – other than strategic or technical issues, which we’ve got far fewer.
“We could solely be barely behind on the person lap.
“Leclerc has about as many pole positions as we’ve got victories. Pole place doesn’t imply a lot, and since overtaking is feasible, that’s not such a criterion.
“However the essential factor is you can sustain the velocity within the race with out overtaxing the tyres.
“And I’ve to disagree, in Le Castellet, Max was quicker within the race. In the event you’re a second forward inside ten laps that reveals that you simply’re the quicker one. We have been the quicker automobile there within the race.”
The Crimson Bull motorsport advisor reiterated that he believes their performances are comparatively equal.
“Checked out over the season, it’s at eye degree,” he stated. “It depends upon the shape on the day and on the updates. They at all times have an impact for one or two races. However even these aren’t a major shift in energy.”
Verstappen is 80 factors up on Leclerc within the Drivers’ standings with Crimson Bull 97 forward of Ferrari within the groups’ struggle.
The 79-year-old was additionally pressed on Crimson Bull’s improved straight-line velocity and what he felt was the reasoning behind it.
Whereas the Crimson Bull vehicles of yesteryear have been recognized for being good within the corners, this yr’s RB18 additionally has aggressive prime velocity.
Marko defined: “The car idea comes from Newey, who has created a automobile that produces a number of downforce with little air resistance. That’s one factor.
“The opposite factor is that Honda has developed and the swap to E10 petrol hardly value any energy. It’s the mix of each. Now it’s only a utterly completely different method.
“In earlier years we have been principally the slowest on the straights. Now we’re the quickest. That’s good. And within the corners we don’t lose practically what we achieve within the straights.”