Almost all drivers in the paddock agree that the two teams will begin the new season from top positions, with McLaren Mercedes in a close 3rd place (unless they are hiding something from the rest of the field and surprise everyone). And Red Bull's motorsport advisor Helmut Marko seems to agree with the overall sentiment prior to the season start.
“Red Bull and Ferrari are at eye-level,” said Marko in a recent interview with Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung. “And McLaren has the potential to catch up before the start of the season.”
In addition, Marko shared with the media a couple of other names that could have a saying in the 2011 championship, with Mercedes GP and Renault topping the list. However, those two teams will have some real catching up to do before challenging for podiums or race wins in 2011.
“Mercedes and Renault are not quite at the level of the top three,” added the Austrian official.
With Robert Kubica at the wheel of the Renault R31, many people considered the Enstone based team a championship caliber squad in 2011. Now that the Pole will probably miss the entire F1 season due to injuries from his rally crash in early February, Lotus Renault doesn't seem so strong anymore, although 2-time world champion Fernando Alonso argues their single-seater is much stronger than last year.
“Renault are showing they are a lot more competitive than they were last year,” he said in a recent interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
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