Red Bull lament ‘black day’ at Austrian GP for Max Verstappen’s F1 title hopes

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"Max Verstappen's Austrian GP Exit Puts Red Bull's Title Hopes in Jeopardy"

Red Bull lament ‘black day’ at Austrian GP for Max Verstappen’s F1 title hopes analysis cover image The Guardian 7.0
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Original Article Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/29/red-bull-lament-black-day-for-max-verstappens-f1-title-hopes
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Helmut Marko, the Red Bull motorsport adviser, expressed grave disappointment following Max Verstappen's early exit from the Austrian Grand Prix, labeling it a 'black day' for the team's championship aspirations. Verstappen was involved in a collision with Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes at turn three during the opening lap, resulting in both drivers being forced to retire from the race. This unfortunate incident has left Verstappen significantly trailing in the championship standings, now 61 points behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri. Marko's comments highlighted the daunting reality facing Red Bull, as they now appear to have little chance of recovering the lost ground, especially given the performance advantage displayed by McLaren throughout the race weekend. He noted the remarkable pace of the McLaren cars, which were consistently half a second faster per lap in the challenging heat conditions at the Red Bull Ring, a situation that has raised concerns within the team about their competitive viability moving forward.

Team principal Christian Horner echoed Marko's sentiments, acknowledging that the title race has effectively become a contest between McLaren and themselves. Despite the fact that thirteen races remain in the season, Red Bull seems to be struggling to keep pace with McLaren, who demonstrated a superior ability to manage tire performance and race strategy. Horner pointed out that the McLaren drivers, Norris and Piastri, showcased an impressive ability to race closely together without suffering tire degradation, a trait that he believes sets them apart from the rest of the field. As Red Bull aims to regroup and focus on upcoming races, both Marko and Horner recognize the uphill battle they face in overtaking McLaren's substantial lead in the championship standings. The situation marks a significant turning point in the season, as Red Bull grapples with the implications of their current form and seeks to reclaim their competitive edge.

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Source URL: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/29/red-bull-lament-black-day-for-max-verstappens-f1-title-hopes

The Red Bull motor sport adviser, Helmut Marko, described Max Verstappen’s elimination from the Austrian Grand Prix as a “black day”, admitting the world champion’s title ambitions were all but over. The remarks were echoed by the team principal,Christian Horner, who conceded the title fight was now a two-horse race.

McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastriachieved a dominant one-two, but Verstappen played no part in proceedings after he was struck by the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli at turn three on the opening lap, knocking both cars out of the race.

It leaves Verstappen 61 points adrift of Piastri in the championship, a lead that appears all but impossible to bridge given the pace advantage theMcLarenenjoys over the rest of the field.

“This is a black day,” Marko said. “The gap is almost impossible to make up. If nothing special happens, we have to assume that the championship is over.

“The McLarens, incredible, this pace in this heat. A half-second advantage per lap on this track. That’s alarming. Especially in these high temperatures. That’s a fact. This was a demonstration. We’re not really sure how we’re going to catch up.”

Thirteen meetings remain butRed Bulllook no closer to chasing down McLaren despite the upgrades they brought to Austria. Indeed, Horner acknowledged that the form Norris and Piastri demonstrated at the Red Bull Ring was indicative of their enormous advantage, particularly in how well the McLaren works its tyres.

“It looks very much like a two‑horse race,” Horner said. “You could see how McLaren are racing each other. They’ve got a cushion to the rest. For us we just focus on one race at a time. We don’t even think about championships.

“What’s truly impressive is when you look at how close Oscar is able to run behind Lando with a car fat on fuel at the beginning of the race. He’s basically making love to his exhaust pipe lap after lap and the tyres are not dying.

“That is their advantage. I can’t see any other car that would be able to follow that closely and not grain the front tyres or the rear tyres.”

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Source: The Guardian