Marko backs Red Bull upgrade as Tsolov rumour emerges

Retired Red Bull adviser Dr Helmut Marko believes this weekend’s Austrian GP could mark a turning point in the 2026 title fight.

Although he stepped away from Formula 1 at the end of last season, the 83-year-old remains closely associated with Red Bull and is serving as an ambassador at the team’s home race at Spielberg.

"I’m now a regular TV viewer like everyone else," Marko told Kleine Zeitung.

The Austrian says he does not miss the travelling.

"I’ve always said that when I stop, I really stop," he said. "It only dawned on me afterwards how exhausting all the traveling was."

Marko remains critical of Formula 1’s current power unit regulations, although he admits the racing itself has often been entertaining.

"I decided to forgo receiving all the data," he said, insisting the power unit rules have complicated his ability to closely follow the action from afar.

"But the races are generally quite good, despite the complicated engine regulations with energy recovery," he said.

"But for the sport, it’s obviously a guaranteed win when Lewis Hamilton wins in his Ferrari."

Looking ahead to this weekend, Marko thinks Mercedes remains favourite despite Ferrari’s breakthrough victory in Barcelona.

"The new regulations clearly put Mercedes in the role of favourite," he said.

However, he believes the development race remains wide open. "Updates are certainly more effective at this stage of regulation - you can win five-tenths in one fell swoop."

Marko is also encouraged by Red Bull’s own upgrade package.

"Red Bull is putting in a car that is on the weight limit for the first time," he revealed.

"We’re definitely in it."

Former Alpha Tauri (now Racing Bulls) team boss Franz Tost is similarly optimistic. "Compared to the start of the season, we have made progress," he told Krone Zeitung, referring to Red Bull Racing.

"Now it’s going to be interesting to see what the updates are triggering. I am convinced that we can close the gap further."

As for Marko, he reflected on Red Bull’s current generation of drivers.

Of Isack Hadjar, now racing for Red Bull Racing, he said: "He comes from this new generation of go-kart drivers and always had a lot of bad luck in the junior series.

"In Formula 2, for example, he was the fastest."

Marko is equally impressed by Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad.

"At 18 he is completely cool and collected," he said.

The comments come amid growing speculation about Red Bull’s future driver plans. Soy Motor in Spain suggests Nikola Tsolov has already secured a Racing Bulls seat for 2027, casting major doubt on Liam Lawson’s future.