Recently, Ross Brawn’s attempts to ‘try out’ different formats for F1 in 2020 have produced little positive responses from drivers, teams, and fans – the latest idea being reverse grids.

Brawn tried to clarify the proposal over the Formula 1 Russian GP race weekend saying that it would be an experiment, at a select few tracks that are known for ‘dull racing’. Further, they’d not implement anything until the season had progressed far enough to show a clear pecking order in the Championship as that would likely determine the reversed starting grid.

Red Bull senior boss Helmut Marko slammed the idea during an interview on Austrian Servus TV saying the idea was “absurd”, and that it would distort the sport.

“If you do this on tracks like Monte Carlo, Singapore or Barcelona, on tracks where there is practically no overtaking, then you don’t need to turn the grid around at all, because nothing changes anyway”

Marko would start from a completely different position.

“Our sport has to take an example from football or tennis. The rules have essentially not changed in the past 30, 40, 50 years.”

“The spectator must understand that there is a Grand Prix according to these and those rules and the best should win, but not with artificial manipulation. We already have DRS and other things to increase the suspense.”

Marko demands a reflection on clear basic values and insists on a regulation in which the cars are “more equivalent”, as he puts it. “Above all, the aerodynamics must be contained. Driving behind has become so difficult because you overheat the tyres. Then they lose grip and you slip more.”

“Unfortunately, many races are relatively monotonous because there is no chance of overtaking,” Marko concludes.

For the rest of the season, Marko still rates Red Bull’s chances of further wins.

“I predicted quite casually that we were going to win five races this season, I am still positive that we will achieve that.”

With Verstappen picking up two wins (Austria & Hungary) so far this season, a further three seems a task to most.

Honda plan for an engine upgrade for Japan, along with a new type of fuel blend the team are confident will increase power for the home race. According to Helmut Marko, the high speed nature of Suzuka shouldn’t hinder their chances if these upgrades give them the power they expect.

“We were also quick at Spa and Monza, but we also had grid penalties there,” argues Marko.

Joining dots: Mercedes set to exit F1, McLaren return to works status?

Former Bridgestone F1 guru Kees van der Grint was interviewed on RTL GP Slipstream program recently on Dutch TV, and put forward a persuasive argument pointing toward a Mercedes exit from Formula 1.

Grint has connections to the paddock and speaks to many inside teams and has confirmed the existence of a rumour that has been…..  READ MORE