Marko: The RB15 is the best and most expensive car we have built

Red Bull will race with new engines from Honda this year, starting at this weekend’s Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2019.

And upgrades planned for April will be in place in Melbourne, with Marko praising chief technical officer Adrian Newey’s fast work.

“Parts that were planned for the third race were brought forward, thanks to all the pressure he [Newey] could provide to get them onto the car for Melbourne,” Marko told a Red Bull television channel.

Marko is extremely buoyant about the hopes of the new Red Bull car and said his confidence is shared by the team’s employees, “Our optimism is not unfounded. I see us behind Ferrari over the race distance but ahead of Mercedes."

“The RB15 is certainly the best and most expensive car in the history of Red Bull Racing, if you take efficiency and the technical perfection of the parts. Now we are back on track. Now we have another chance to drive for victories on our own.”

Marko said Red Bull’s performances in pre-season testing meant he had every reason to be bullish, “There have been many negatives voices saying that Honda can’t do it. But we’ve never had such faultless test days."

“If we have more horsepower, it’s only logical that we have to look forward this year. Last year, we had four victories. Five victories are realistic. I hope there will be even more.”

Max Verstappen will race alongside Pierre Gasly for Red Bull in 2019. Read our season outlook for the Blues here>>>