Helmut Marko anticipates that Red Bull Racing will face increased pressure from the competition in Monaco. The motorsport chief of the Austrian team is particularly keeping an eye on Ferrari, which performs exceptionally well on circuits with low-speed corners. In those conditions, the competition should have an advantage over Red Bull.
Because, as Marko told Motorsport-Magazin.com, Red Bull's advantage lies nowadays in the straight sections and on race day. These are two factors that are less important than usual in Monaco. "We cannot fully exploit our racing capabilities in Monaco. The one leading the race sets the pace. Tire wear will not be decisive. There are no straight sections where our speed advantage would come into play."
Marko is wary of the threat from the Ferrari camp. "What we have seen so far is that Ferrari is sometimes faster than Red Bull in the slow corners. It will be exciting, but we will see." Ferrari particularly shines in qualifying. According to Marko, that will be decisive. "The biggest advantage is the quick tire warm-up, and I think that can be crucial in the qualifying session."
The Red Bull top advisor is also keeping an eye on Fernando Alonso. While his Aston Martin may not be as fast on the straight sections, as mentioned earlier, that is not a significant factor in Monaco. "Alonso is always good. The disadvantage of lacking top speed doesn't matter in Monte Carlo. And if they have a good weekend where they are immediately at the front in qualifying, he is definitely a contender."
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