Helmut Marko delivers a scathing critique of Red Bull’s wind tunnel, responsible for the development of the RB21. According to the Austrian advisor, it’s nothing more than an outdated relic from the 1940s
A furious Helmut Marko has emerged at the start of the 2025 season. the outspoken Austrian, embroiled in months of internal friction with much of the Milton Keynes-based team, has once again fired a pointed remark. But this time, it’s not one of his typical jabs — as drivers like Hadjar, Lawson, and Tsunoda would know well — nor is it directed at any member of the grid. This time, the criticism is aimed squarely at his own team: Red Bull Racing.
Marko’s dissatisfaction with the RB21 is abundantly clear. He has made no secret of his disapproval of the work done on the 2025 challenger, repeatedly expressing skepticism about its competitiveness. Tensions within the team — notably with Team Principal Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen — have been simmering for months. These internal conflicts contributed to last year’s high-profile departure of Adrian Newey, arguably the most significant loss in Red Bull’s history, and they continue to cast a long shadow over the team’s operations.
“A Relic from the 1940s”: Marko’s Latest Outburst
“Our current wind tunnel is a relic from the 1940s.” This single quote encapsulates Marko’s blistering criticism of the Anglo-Austrian squad. The 81-year-old from Graz didn’t mince words when addressing why recent updates to the RB21 have failed to deliver the desired performance. He also raised another pressing issue: the development of the 2026 Power Unit — reportedly a growing concern within the team, with several sources indicating ongoing difficulties.
In an interview with Austrian daily Kleine Zeitung, Marko elaborated further:
“Even though it’s been modified several times, the tunnel still suffers from its original design — it’s too long and has exposed concrete piping. It’s difficult to achieve the required temperatures. A new facility is currently under construction, and it’s expected to be completed by 2026.”
He continued: “Last year we faced considerable confusion due to discrepancies between wind tunnel data and on-track performance. We’ve worked on it since, but we still don’t know exactly where the correlation issue lies”. “.
Photo: Oracle Red Bull Racing
