Marko says 2021 title loss still hurts Mercedes

The 2021 play volition beryllium remembered arsenic 1 of the astir tense and arguable successful the modern past of Formula 1. The combat for the rubric betwixt Red Bull and Mercedes crossed the boundaries of mean rivalry, moving from the way to governmental and behind-the-scenes clashes, which shaped the full title for months. For galore participants, it was a twelvemonth of tremendous pressure, uncertainty and changeless tension, but hardly anyone experienced it arsenic powerfully arsenic Helmut Marko.

A erstwhile advisor to Red Bull and a long-time fig successful the sport, the Austrian openly spoke contiguous astir that twelvemonth arsenic the astir hard successful his career. Helmut, who near Red Bull astatine the extremity of 2025 aft 20 years of work, has much than fractional a period of acquisition down him – arsenic a driver, squad proprietor and cardinal designer of the inferior programme that produced galore champions. That is precisely wherefore his appraisal of the play carries peculiar weight.

The play was extreme

Speaking to F1 Insider, helium said the play was utmost connected each levels, not conscionable the sporting one. Max Verstappen won the archetypal of 4 titles aft an epic duel with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, but the roadworthy to it was thing but ordinary.

"2021, successful presumption of emotions, authorities - successful presumption of everything, was the astir hard twelvemonth I person ever experienced successful Formula 1," said Marko. "Mercedes dominated."

The cardinal moment, helium adds, was erstwhile Red Bull with a comparatively young operator emerged arsenic a superior menace to Mercedes' long-standing rule. "Suddenly Red Bull came with a young operator and challenged everyone. There were crashes connected the way - the archetypal astatine Silverstone, wherever Hamilton's beforehand instrumentality deed Max's rear and helium went retired astatine implicit 300km/h," said Marko.

The hardest portion of the season, helium adds, often took spot disconnected the track. "There was a toxic ambiance astatine times. Political intrigue everywhere. Really, truly difficult."

It each culminated successful Abu Dhabi, successful a contention that everlastingly marked the past of the sport. “Then the last successful Abu Dhabi, which went successful our favour – partially due to the fact that we changed tyres astatine the close moment. At Mercedes, the information that they mislaid that title is inactive profoundly rooted,” concluded Marko.

The 2021 play shows wherefore Red Bull sees the opening of a caller era, portion Mercedes inactive feels a coiled that has ne'er afloat healed.