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Motorsport

Helmut Marko slams "depressing" F1 Miami GP result for Red Bull

Helmut Marko Red Bull Max Verstappen Lando Norris McLaren George Russell Piastri McLarens Red Bull Racing

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has admitted Red Bull's "depressing" race pace in F1's Miami Grand Prix was worse than expected after Max Verstappen slumped to a distant fourth place.

Verstappen defeated Lando Norris to pole on Saturday, but after rubbing elbows with the Briton at the start, which dropped Norris back to sixth, the reigning world champion was powerless to resist either McLaren driver. First Piastri and then Norris romped past the Red Bull driver to take a dominant 1-2 win for the papaya squad.

Verstappen rued a lack of grip that saw him cede around seven tenths per lap to the McLarens, while he was unlucky to lose third to George Russell as the Mercedes man made a less costly pitstop under a mid-race virtual safety car.

But on harder tyres Verstappen then couldn't manage to overtake Russell during the second stint, and eventually he finished fourth a whopping 40 seconds behind Piastri, who snared his third consecutive win.

When quizzed shortly after the finish by Motorsport.com, team advisor Marko said he was surprised by the sobering picture for Red Bull in race trim, admitting the seven-tenth deficit to McLaren was "depressing".

"The main conclusion is we are too slow," the Austrian said. "We saw when they were driving flat out, we are seven tenths of a second behind. We saw the real speed for the first time."

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Lando Norris, McLaren (Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool)

"We have to find some performance straight away, but it was depressing how quick the McLarens really are."

Red Bull is expected to unleash further upgrades at the next race in Imola following the introduction of a new floor for Verstappen. However, Marko acknowledged it would be tough to overcome McLaren's race pace advantage, which appears much bigger on circuits that feature tyre overheating.

Asked if the next upgrade package would be enough, he replied: "It has to [be], but such a big step is difficult to catch up."

Photos from Miami GP - Race

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Singer Lisa

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Ebony Zippora

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Suni Lee in the Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber garage

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Brittany Mahomes and Patrick Mahomes

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

The FIFA Club World Cup trophy

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Alex Albon, Williams and Lily Muni He

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Jessica Vargas

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team with Jon Bon Jovi

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Michael Bay

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Williams, Alexander Albon, Williams

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Zak Brown, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal, Sauber

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Alexander Albon, Williams

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Lily Zneimer in the McLaren garage

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes, Louise McEwen, Chief Marketing Officer at McLaren

2025 Miami Grand Prix - Sunday

Formula 1

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In this article

Filip Cleeren

Formula 1

Max Verstappen

Yuki Tsunoda

Red Bull Racing

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