Red Bull’s Helmut Marko supports fearless Max Verstappen amidst track limit controversy
Helmut Marko
Red Bull's Helmut Marko has defended Max Verstappen's actions at the Spanish GP, stating that there is no reason to be angry with the F1 championship leader despite his disregard for track limits.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has expressed his unwavering support for Max Verstappen, emphasizing that being angry with the F1 championship leader is unwarranted, despite his disregard for track limits at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Verstappen dominated the race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, crossing the finish line 26 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes. However, the Dutchman pushed the boundaries of track limits, risking a penalty that could have been detrimental to his victory.
The driving standards flag, a warning for exceeding track limits, was shown to the two-time World Champion. Verstappen remained undeterred, setting the fastest lap of the race, disregarding multiple warnings from his Race Engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, who aimed to avoid any potential penalties.
Marko dismissed concerns in an interview with ORF, stating, "We were less worried about that than the viewers. Then he also got to drive the fastest lap, while his tyres were nowhere near as good as Checo's [Sergio Perez] when he set his fastest lap."
Acknowledging Verstappen's daring approach, Marko added, "In that position, you normally don't take risks, but you can't dismiss that mindset with Max. You can't be angry with him."
