Dr. Helmut Marko has indicated that the overt discord within Red Bull's leadership has subsided due to his "truce" with Christian Horner.
While Marko, the key F1 consultant for the energy drink company, will not be present in Montreal this Friday, he clarified that his absence is unrelated to internal conflicts but due to an honor being bestowed upon him by the state of Styria for his contributions.
"But it's not much use because I'm not going to the Opera Ball," joked Marko, aged 81, during a chat with Kronen Zeitung newspaper.
For Marko, the pressing concern is Red Bull's diminishing dominance in the 'ground effect' era, now being overtly challenged by teams like Ferrari and McLaren.
"We have lost the dominance of the first three races," he conceded.
"The competition has caught up in the third year of the current regulations by copying some things and even improving them. There is not much room for innovation anymore," Marko reflected. "But this is simply a logical development."
Red Bull's 2024 car notably struggled with Monaco's demanding track contours and kerbs, exposing weaknesses that Ferrari, according to Marko, has managed to overcome. "Ferrari is better in this respect," he noted, "and they're also better in terms of top speed.
"The fact is, we are not going to Canada as favourites."
Yet, Marko affirmed Red Bull's commitment to striving for excellence. "We will combine all our forces," he assured.
"Even if we are no longer dominant, we want to get the maximum out of it and look towards the world championship title."
Additionally, Marko emphasized the importance of handling the internal strife and negative publicity that overshadowed the early part of the 2024 season.
"We have made a truce," Marko revealed regarding his agreement with team principal Horner.
Lastly, Marko expressed concerns about the slow and processional dynamics of the Monaco GP and hinted at potential changes. "It was a farce," he admitted, "but they are already considering a new layout, also because the atmosphere in Monte Carlo is simply incomparable."
