![\"Dr-Helmut-Marko-3\"](\"https:\/\/www.racinginfocus.com\/rif\/gallery\/f1-2014-rif-images\/f1-2014-persons\/Dr-Helmut-Marko-3.jpg\")
“We’re used to these permanent poaching attempts from both sides,” Dr Helmut Marko told the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, referring not just to Ferrari.<\/p>\nRed Bull has not denied rumours Ferrari made yet another move to poach Adrian Newey.<\/p>\n
“We’re used to these permanent poaching attempts from both sides,” Dr Helmut Marko told the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, referring not just to Ferrari.<\/p>\n
“Mercedes and Ferrari don’t just try to get our top employees; they are trying at every level (of the team),” said Marko.<\/p>\n
In reality, Red Bull and Ferrari have a more immediate problem even than a tug-of-war over F1’s most sought-after and highly paid engineer.<\/p>\n
At the Circuit de Catalunya, a layout expected to play into the hands of Mercedes’ rivals, Lewis Hamilton was a clear second faster than any other qualifying pretender.<\/p>\n
Not only that, world champion Sebastian Vettel is having one of the worst grand prix weekends of his formerly glittering F1 career.<\/p>\n
Despite having switched his RB10 chassis before the Barcelona weekend, the German has struggled simply to get his new Red Bull to run in Spain.<\/p>\n
“It’s getting a bit boring,” Vettel said on Saturday.\u00a0 “We’ve had all sorts of problems this year.”<\/p>\n
Boring perhaps, but the quadruple title winner is at least retaining his sense of humour.<\/p>\n
Asked if his 2014 travails are a good test of his mettle, Vettel replied: “Well, I haven’t been tested on the track much so far!<\/p>\n
“If you compare my salary with the number of laps I’ve done, then I am the best paid driver,” he smirked to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.<\/p>\n
Vettel sat out most of Friday and also broke down in qualifying, so he added: “I’d say I’m well rested for the race.”<\/p>\n
Gerhard Berger, once Vettel’s boss at Toro Rosso, also thinks motivational issues may be creeping into the 26-year-old’s struggles.<\/p>\n
“Firstly he knows that he has no chance with this Renault engine,” said the former McLaren and Ferrari driver.<\/p>\n
“And certainly after always being at the front for four years and giving everything, in this situation you could find that your batteries are getting low,” added Berger.<\/p>\n
But Red Bull’s Marko thinks the real problem is simply Mercedes’ increasing dominance.<\/p>\n
“We are one second from them.\u00a0 In the race we won’t see Mercedes,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We are making small steps forward, but so are they.\u00a0 We need a quantum leap, otherwise for us the year is over,” added Marko.<\/p>\n
It is believed Red Bull wants to introduce substantial fuel and engine modifications in time for its home race in Austria next month, but this might require a relaxation of the engine ‘freeze’ rules.<\/p>\n
“The rules are clear, and we stick to them,” Mercedes F1 chairman Niki Lauda, apparently ruling out cooperation to help struggling Renault, insisted.<\/p>\n
So for now, Marko admitted he is hoping Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg’s lonely battle at the front comes to blows.<\/p>\n
Lauda, meanwhile, is taking delight in Mercedes’ current situation.<\/p>\n
“I was really concerned that our lead would be smaller on an aerodynamic track like Barcelona,” he said.\u00a0 “But we are even further ahead of Red Bull than before.”<\/p>\n
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