Red Bull began 2024 with off-track turmoil as Team Principal Christian Horner’s scandal surfaced. Though they promised their on-track performance wouldn’t take a hit, it eventually did, with McLaren and Ferrari going toe-to-toe with Max Verstappen. Helmut Marko believes that the roots of Lando Norris’ maiden victory come from Zak Brown & Co. “copying” Red Bull. Moreover, Marko says McLaren’s surge can be traced back to 2023, when Red Bull’s Chief Engineering Officer left to join the Woking outfit as their Technical Director.

In mid-2023, Rob Marshall left Red Bull after a 17-year stint to join McLaren as their new Technical Chief. Then, Marko declared that losing Marshall wouldn’t cause a “serious disadvantage, or none at all”. But within one year, that confident prediction has returned to haunt him. McLaren’s MCL38 is super-adaptable to different circuits and has thrust Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri into the mix for consistent podiums. The 81-year-old reckons McLaren is now reaping the benefits of Marshall’s expertise, by “copying” Red Bull.

“We’re in the third year with the current regulations and everyone is copying,” Marko said, as quoted by FormulaPassion. “Some copy better, and you can see the result of this in McLaren. Ferrari has also been steadily developing. McLaren is starting to see the fruits of the arrival of our former Rob Marshall, who has now been with them for 9 months.” Ferrari and McLaren are right on Red Bull’s tail, with Sergio Perez’s underperformance threatening their constructors’ hopes. After addressing this core issue, Marko even revealed how the Christian Horner case is developing.

Helmut Marko gives an update on Max Verstappen’s handling of the Christian Horner scandal

Though Red Bull’s independent investigation cleared team boss Christian Horner of any wrongdoing in the ‘inappropriate behavior’ case, the accuser fought back. She escalated the matter to the FIA ethics committee, and an update is awaited on the matter. In such an uncertain scenario. Helmut Marko has commended Max Verstappen for blocking the noise out, and focusing on the championship.

“Max has opted out of it and concentrated on racing. So he did very well”, Marko told Oe24. He also said that Red Bull employees need to ‘push aside’ this  legal matter, “especially in a situation where you are so challenged as a team and technically and everyone has to pull together.” There are several factors threatening the Milton Keynes outfit’s dominance. With Rob Marshall already uplifting McLaren and Adrian Newey to possibly do so for Ferrari in 2025, the reigning World Champions are on the horizon of losing their edge.

What’s your take on Marko’s narrative? Share your thoughts below.