Marko: Alonso is in the form of his life

Fernando Alonso emerged the fastest driver, behind the Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, after the season opening Formula 1 race in Bahrain, especially after Ferrari put themselves out of contention with Charles Leclerc's SF-23 breaking down, while Carlos Sainz suffered from excessive tyre wear.

Dr. Helmut Marko claimed, had Alonso started the race better, he would've mounted a more serious challenge to the front running Red Bull cars, but instead the Aston Martin driver had to fight to get back up the grid overtaking the likes of George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz on his way.

Marko told ServusTV after the race: "I think Alonso would have been much stronger if he didn't drop back further at the start.

"It was a fantastic fight with Lewis Hamilton after that. Tough but fair, and nice and old-school. Of course, this did cost him time and tyres.

"That means that if he had been right behind us, the challenge for us would have been much greater," the Red Bull consultant pointed out.

"I don't know how much further development there will be, but at least with his age he doesn't have to worry. He is in the form of his life."

Verstappen was driving on another level in Bahrain on Sunday, and finished the race 12s ahead of his teammate, over 38s ahead of Alonso in third.

"We have a very strong car and we have improved evolutionarily compared to last year," Marko reflected. "At the same time, both drivers have become stronger.

"Checo stepped out a little less sweaty, but he also didn't get as much opposition. Very clever how they did with managing the tyres without losing speed. It's a great opportunity for us, also because of a super engine from Honda," he maintained.

Although Red Bull were slapped with a $7-Million fine and a 10% reduction in their wind tunnel time last season for breaching the 2021 cost cap, the team's start of the 2023 season shows that they have now been affected by that, but Marko highlighted other factors that are contributing in this success.

"Not only the passion and ambition, but [there is] also a certain harmony, understanding and trust within the team," he said.

"That's what makes us very strong. When you operate from that strength, it seems easy. However, there is a lot of work behind it," the 79-year-old concluded.