Helmut Marko happy to have Ferrari as opponent, but expects Mercedes to join the battle. Helmut Marko happy to have Ferrari as opponent.

Austrian former professional racing driver and current Red Bull super-consultant Helmut Marko made no secret of being “very happy” that Red Bull’s rival in the 2022 Formula 1 season is Scuderia Ferrari and, at least at first glance, no longer Mercedes: “It’s a completely different atmosphere,” he says in an interview for ServusTV. Great respect was shown in particular between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen on Sunday evening. The two title contenders fought hard on the track, but immediately after the defeat, the Ferrari driver said on the radio: “Well done Max. It was a good battle.”

Helmut Marko happy with a world championship battle against Ferrari
“Ferrari is like us. There is passion, emotion, sportsmanship and respect. And you can feel it at every track.” – says Marko. “We have a competitive relationship, but within the sporting rules. And this is not only noticeable with the drivers, but also in the technical coordination or design. You can exchange ideas with Ferrari. It’s pleasant”. In sporting terms, of course, he sees Ferrari as the toughest opponent in the world title fight: “Ferrari has the most universal car. It is fast in all circumstances, with all types of tires and at all temperatures,” analyzes the 78-year-old. With Charles Leclerc, Ferrari has secured one of the super talents of Formula 1 and after a 2021 season of mixed emotions for him, the 24-year-old Monegasque seems to be in top form again. At least in the first two races the conditions inside Ferrari were clear. Much to the displeasure of Helmut Marko, whose hope was that the Ferrari drivers would take points away from each other: “Carlos Sainz beat Charles Leclerc last year, but this year Leclerc is in top form. This means we can’t expect any support from Sainz. There will be a situation like ours, where there is a definite number 1 driver” – he explained.

Mercedes to be back in the fight
As for Mercedes, Helmut Marko believes that Lewis Hamilton’s performance in Saudi Arabia (eliminated in Q1, then tenth in the race on Sunday) is to be forgotten. “Hamilton drove as if he were on the ice. I am convinced that they will solve the problems over the next few races. They will close the gap for sure. And it will probably end in a three-way battle.”