Marko pleased with 'best ever' preparation for season

Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko claims that the team has never had such a strong preparation for an upcoming season. 

The energy drink-backed company enters a new era in 2019, taking on Honda as its power unit supplier. The team has spent the last twelve years with Renault, winning four consecutive world titles from 2010 to 2013.

Honda spent the 2018 campaign with Toro Rosso, Red Bull's junior team. And now as it makes the step up to supplying both outfits, Marko is satisfied with the preparations so far.

"We have had a very good time and the engine is reliable. I would say we have never had such a good preparation for this season with both teams," said Marko.

"It is a new period. We don’t look back, we look forward. It is a very good relationship. The concern of course was about reliability, but so far that is not a problem at all. It is a new culture as well, but it fits well with out people."

Marko also hailed Max Verstappen, who enters his fourth year with the team. The Dutchman had a strong end to last season, after finding himself in trouble throughout the opening seven Grands Prix of the year.

Marko says that Verstappen has matured greatly over the winter break, learning that not winning doesn't mean a disappointing result.

"He did already a very positive step with extra effort and concentration before testing. He saw it as a duty and now he understands that, which is very, very important," the Austrian said.

"We had some discussions about being patient, which is one thing he will show. He also understood that if he can’t win, it is important to take points and finish races, otherwise we won’t win the championship.

"He is mature enough, even if he is still very young, he is far more mature. He and the team go into the season with a lot of confidence."