McLaren’s relentless dominance in the 2025 Formula 1 season has left Red Bull’s Max Verstappen facing an uphill battle to secure the drivers’ championship.
With McLaren securing victories in seven of the first nine races, Verstappen’s title chances are dwindling, despite his two wins this season.
The Woking-based team have been unstoppable, with Oscar Piastri leading the charge. The Australian has clinched five victories and holds a commanding 49-point lead over Verstappen in the drivers’ standings.
Piastri’s teammate, Lando Norris, sits second, further highlighting McLaren’s formidable pace. Verstappen, currently third, suffered a significant blow at the Spanish Grand Prix, where a 10-second penalty dropped him from fourth to 10th, costing valuable points.
Red Bull have struggled to match McLaren’s consistency. Speaking to ServusTV, Marko admitted, “At the moment, we don’t have the car to challenge McLaren. Max has to drive every lap at the limit to compete. You can see how Yuki Tsunoda and other teammates have struggled. Only Max can handle this car.”
Marko acknowledged improvements in Red Bull’s car, noting, “Our car now has a slightly wider working window. When everything aligns, we can match McLaren’s pace, but that’s only happening once every three or four races. McLaren are always there, and if we don’t address these issues, the gap will widen.”
Despite the challenge, Red Bull remain undeterred, drawing on past comebacks. Marko recalled, “In 2012, Sebastian Vettel was 44 points behind Fernando Alonso, and we overcame that. In 2022, Max trailed Charles Leclerc by 46 points early on and still won. We’re not giving up, but it will be tough.”
The fight continues at the Canadian Grand Prix, set for 70 laps around the 4.361-kilometer Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 15. McLaren’s momentum makes them the team to beat, but Verstappen and Red Bull are determined to turn the tide.
