Helmut Marko claims Red Bull ‘very satisfied’ after Friday at Japanese GP despite Ferrari’s ‘impressive’ long run pace

However, Helmut Marko does not seem to worry about such a possibility and is satisfied with the team’s performance.

We are very satisfied. We brought relatively important updates and they worked. Ferrari’s long run was really impressive, [Charles]Leclerc was a second faster. But this is not the reality: if they use less fuel, which Ferrari likes to do, they are close to us

Helmut Marko said in an interview with Motorsport-Magazine

The Austrian was content with his team’s pace around the high-speed track. Moreover, he reckoned that despite the Monegasque lapping an astonishing one second faster than his drivers, come race day, Red Bull would be faster as Ferrari uses less fuel when compared to them during free practice runs.

Helmut Marko praises young rookie Ayumu Iwasa

At the Japanese GP, the VCARB outfit was sporting an all-Japanese line-up in FP1. Ayumu Iwasa took Daniel Ricciardo‘s seat and showed a decent pace around the Suzuka International racing circuit.

After FP1, the 80-year-old was seen applauding the Japanese driver for his pace in the VCARB 01.

He[Ayumu Iwasa] did very well, because the gap to Yuki Tsunoda was less than second. It's a very positive performance. Helmut Marko said in an interview with ORF

The Austrian stated that Iwasa was within a second of his compatriot, Yuki Tsunoda which could deem his first outing a success in F1. Moreover, the 22-year-old’s career seems to be on the rise as he has been rumored to have been in contact with Aston Martin for a drive by 2026.

However, Iwasa is on a long list of drivers who are waiting for a breakthrough in F1. Meanwhile, the Austrian would be focused on the senior team currently and would be hoping for a mighty performance in Japan by star driver, Max Verstappen.