Red Bull's Helmut Marko slams F1 rivals' lack of innovation

As Formula 1 prepares for the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend, the focus has been on the competition at the front. In the previous three races, both McLaren and Ferrari closed the gap on the previously dominant RB20.

McLaren debuted a series of updates in Miami, where Max Verstappen was beaten on track for the first time since the Singapore Grand Prix last year, though Lando Norris benefited from some good fortune. Despite a challenging weekend in Imola, where Verstappen secured pole position and a win against the odds, Monaco proved to be a turning point. Ferrari capitalized on the upgrades introduced at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc dominating his home race.

Red Bull now face the challenge of maintaining their advantage, having started the current season as strongly as it ended 2023. Marko, however, emphasized that their competitors have caught up by replicating and enhancing Red Bull's innovations.

"We have lost the dominance of the first three races," the 81-year-old told Kronen Zeitung. "The competition has caught up in the third year of the current regulations.

"In the process, they have copied and even improved a number of things. There is not much room for innovation anymore. It's just a logical development, nothing honourable."

Red Bull have said they anticipate a tough weekend in Montreal this weekend. Traditional circuits like the upcoming race in Spain on June 22 were where the team expected to regain full strength. The difficulties in Monaco stemmed from the RB20's struggle with bumps and kerbs, turning street circuits into a significant weakness for the team.

These flaws are expected to be evident at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The Montreal track demands aggressive kerb-riding to achieve optimal lap times, posing a challenge for Red Bull.

However, there was a potential advantage: changeable weather conditions. Rain has been forecasted for the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, with the possibility of a dry-wet race. Marko said this could be an opportunity for Red Bull, particularly for Verstappen, who excels in wet conditions. "When it rains, the Verstappen factor comes to the fore again," Marko stated.

The Canadian Grand Prix, scheduled for June 7-9, is set to be the ninth race of the Formula 1 season. The race, consisting of 70 laps around the 4.361-kilometre Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, promises to be a crucial test for Red Bull's resilience against the advancing McLaren and Ferrari teams.