Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko believes McLaren is poised to comfortably clinch victory at Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix.
Despite Max Verstappen's pole-to-win masterclass at Suzuka last week, Bahrain's unique challenges—high temperatures, slow corners, and a gritty track surface—favour McLaren's strengths.
"For half a lap, Max is as fast as the McLaren," team boss Christian Horner noted. "From turn 10 onward, he drops back."
Marko elaborated to Osterreich newspaper: "In the heat, tyre wear is crucial. And it's really bad for us. We have a few other problems as well. I fear McLaren will win, and it will be a pretty clear win," the Austrian predicted.
Speaking to Viaplay, Horner acknowledged that even Verstappen's exceptional form won't bridge the gap. "It's impossible to repeat what he did last week, in terms of his performance over one lap, and then to keep the McLarens behind him for the whole grand prix," he said.
"This is a circuit where you can overtake. One of the easiest circuits for overtaking actually."
Ex-F1 driver Ralf Schumacher echoed this view, suggesting to f1-insider.com that Verstappen's title hopes rely on McLaren's missteps.
"He's pushing the envelope while the two McLaren drivers are making mistakes, racing against each other, getting in each other's way, and taking points away from each other as a result," he said. "That, and only that, could help Verstappen in the end. Because on tracks like Bahrain, the McLaren is better. Even Verstappen won't have a chance of winning there."
