Helmut Marko Admits Red Bull Need McLaren to Falter in Late-Season Title Battle
Red Bull Racing’s senior advisor Helmut Marko has made a rare confession, admitting that his team are now relying on their rivals McLaren to make mistakes if they are to have any hope of snatching the 2025 Formula 1 titles.
With just four race weekends left in the season, the defending champions find themselves in an unfamiliar position — chasing rather than leading. Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion, trails current championship leader Lando Norris by 36 points. Close behind Norris sits his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, just one point adrift, giving the British outfit a dominant position in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.
It’s been a season where McLaren’s resurgence has left even the mighty Red Bull searching for answers. Their car — the MCL39 — has proven consistently faster, more balanced, and better suited to the 2025 regulations than Red Bull’s RB21. McLaren’s engineers, led by team principal Andrea Stella and technical director Peter Prodromou, have delivered a machine capable of challenging and often comfortably beating Red Bull on pure pace.
Their dominance has been so overwhelming that McLaren secured the Constructors’ Championship with six races still to go — an achievement reminiscent of Red Bull’s own golden years during their peak dominance. However, despite McLaren’s strength, Verstappen’s individual brilliance has kept the title race alive, at least mathematically.
The Dutchman has managed to claw back points through stunning drives in recent rounds, including victories and podiums that seemed improbable given the performance gap earlier in the season. But his recent heroics may not be enough. McLaren’s consistency, combined with their ability to extract maximum performance at every circuit, has given Norris and Piastri a significant cushion heading into the final stretch.
Last weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix underlined just how formidable McLaren have become. Lando Norris delivered a masterclass, winning the race by more than 30 seconds — a margin rarely seen in the modern F1 era. It was a statement victory that reinforced McLaren’s position as the team to beat, and perhaps a demoralizing one for Red Bull, who have not been used to playing catch-up in recent years.
Speaking to Austrian outlet Kleine Zeitung, Helmut Marko was candid about the team’s current situation. He admitted that Red Bull’s only real chance lies in McLaren faltering under pressure as the season reaches its climax. “Of course, we still need McLaren’s help,” Marko conceded. “I think Piastri, in particular, might not be handling the pressure as well. That’s what it seemed like recently, even though I don’t know him well enough to say for sure.”
Marko’s remarks hint at a strategy based not only on Red Bull’s own performance improvements but also on the hope that inexperience might creep into McLaren’s young lineup. Both Norris and Piastri are competing for their first Formula 1 world title, and neither has been in such an intense championship battle before. By contrast, Verstappen has been through multiple title fights, known for his ability to remain composed and ruthless when it matters most.
This psychological factor could become pivotal. If McLaren’s young duo buckle under the mental strain, Red Bull could capitalize — but that’s a big “if.” So far, Norris has looked remarkably calm and mature, while Piastri, despite occasional flashes of inconsistency, has shown the poise of a seasoned racer.
Behind the scenes, Red Bull’s engineers are continuing to push for last-minute upgrades, hoping to close the performance gap. However, with the development freeze approaching and McLaren already far ahead, there’s only so much that can be done at this stage of the season.
Marko’s comments also reflect growing frustration within the Red Bull camp. The team that once seemed untouchable has found itself struggling to match McLaren’s pace across different circuits — from high-speed tracks like Monza to high-altitude venues like Mexico City. While Verstappen’s skill has allowed him to outperform the car’s limitations, Sergio Pérez has endured a difficult year, often finishing well behind the leaders and failing to provide the team with crucial points in their constructors’ defense.
As the season heads into its decisive phase, Red Bull’s focus is split between maximizing Verstappen’s remaining chances and understanding how they lost their dominant edge. The final four races — in Brazil, Qatar, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi — will determine whether McLaren can maintain their composure or if Red Bull can pull off one of the greatest late-season comebacks in Formula 1 history.
For now, though, even Helmut Marko concedes that destiny is out of Red Bull’s hands. Their championship hopes depend on more than just Verstappen’s brilliance — they depend on McLaren’s mistakes. And as Marko himself suggested, that may be the only lifeline left.
