Oct 20, 2024, 7:34 p.m. ET
Helmut Marko pointed out that he could not make an analysis of Checo Pérez‘s performance in Austin, where the nineteenth round of the championship took place.
AUSTIN.- Helmut Marko said Red Bull is not comparing Sergio Pérez with Liam Lawson to make a decision on its lineup for 2025, the comparison is between the New Zealander and the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda, but he noted that in terms of the continuity of the Mexican nothing It will be assessed until after the last Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi.
In an interview with ESPN and a couple of other media outlets, Marko pointed out that he could not analyze Checo Pérez’s performance in Austin, where the nineteenth round of the Formula 1 world championship took place.
Helmut Marko (right) assured that Red Bull will not decide anything about Checo Pérez until after Abu Dhabi. Mark Thompson/Getty Images
-Is it true that Red Bull is comparing the performances of Checo Pérez and Liam Lawson to make a decision at the end of the season?
“No, we are currently comparing Lawson to Yuki.”
-When will you make a decision about your lineup for next season, if now you are also comparing Yuki?
Abu Dhabi, not before.
Regarding the Austin GP, Marko said that they took a big step in the championship, but that they did not have the results they expected in the car.
“The changes to the car didn’t work today. Obviously, we did something that was not perfect, because we were not competitive against Ferrari. We had problems on both types of tire, hard and medium, but in general we took a big step forward,” he added.
According to Marko, special advisor to Red Bull, the differences between Checo Pérez’s cars in terms of the car’s improvements, focused on the floor, were minimal.
“Marginal differences,” he said.
Marko, very focused on the final duel between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, admitted that he could not pay much attention to Pérez’s performance, but assured that in Mexico he will have the same support as always.
“We finished in seventh, we started in tenth. We have to compare lap times and then say more. I was very excited in the last 15 laps. Normally I watch the lap times, but this time I couldn’t.
“I hope to be in the lead again (in Mexico) and it will be nice. And it’s time for us to win again, because it’s a long time coming. In the last victory we had (this season), Max was always fast in Mexico. Checo last year was also fast in the race until the first corner.”
-Do you expect Red Bull Racing to be more competitive in the next race in Mexico?
“We think so, yes. But now the difference between McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes is increasing, because there is no other estimate. Russell was very fast. If I had started in a better position, I could have shot ahead as well.
Specifically for Checo in Mexico, what is the plan? Is there a different plan to try to support it?
“He will have absolutely the same team and we will support him as much as we can,” said the Austrian.
