F1 News
Marko on 2020 title chances: "Our opponent will be Mercedes, especially Hamilton"
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
Aston Martin Red Bull Racing advisor Dr Helmut Marko has identified Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton as his team's main opposition for the 2020 championship, as the Austrian does not believe Ferrari will form a major threat this year.
Marko previously predicted Red Bull to win "at least five races and the title" in the upcoming season. The 76-year-old seems to be very confident his team will kick on after their promising form at the end of 2019, with engine partners Honda packing a much more powerful punch in the latter stages to compliment the well-developed chassis of the RB15.
It helped Max Verstappen win a personal-best three races in the year as the Dutchman finished the year in third place in the championship, leaving both Ferraris behind him.
Elaborating on Red Bull's 2020 title challenge, Marko explained how Hamilton is the biggest threat to the Bulls in the final year of the turbo-hybrid era.
"Our opponent will be Mercedes, especially Lewis Hamilton," Marko told German news outlet Auto Bild.
No mention of Ferrari there by the Austrian. When asked about the Italian works team, Marko expects them to fall off, if the final stage of 2019 is any indication.
"We were ahead of them in the last third of the season. They don’t seem to have the advantage, especially with their engine, as they did before."
Their own engine partners, Honda, are still a bit behind Mercedes, especially in qualifying mode, but Marko is certain this gap will be bridged by the Japanese manufacturer.
"I am convinced that Honda can also take this small step, and then it is up to us to build a car from the start that will compete for the title.
"So far it looks good because we will be finished building the new car sooner than ever before."