Max Verstappen’s dominance in the Austrian Grand Prix could be amplified in race conditions.
Red Bull advisor, Helmut Marko, issued a warning to his Formula 1 competitors, stating that Verstappen’s advantage in the Austrian Grand Prix could be even more pronounced during the race. Verstappen showcased his dominance during qualifying at the Red Bull Ring, securing pole position with a four-tenths gap over McLaren’s Lando Norris in second place. The Dutch driver was pleased with the configuration changes made to his RB20, allowing him to widen the gap between him and his closest rival. Marko expressed surprise at Verstappen’s untouchable performance, considering Red Bull’s difficulties in previous rounds. He revealed that the team focused on optimizing their car for the races, which should worry McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari.
Marko emphasized his surprise at the significant performance difference, stating that a four-tenths difference on this track would translate to a one-second advantage on circuits like Spa-Francorchamps. He also mentioned that Red Bull’s configuration was specifically tailored for Sunday’s race, and the car performed exceptionally well from the first training lap. Verstappen’s ability to easily secure pole position further highlighted his exceptional performance. The Dutch driver expressed his satisfaction with the car’s balance, which allowed him to attack corners with confidence. Verstappen’s outstanding performances coincided with a dispute between his father, Jos Verstappen, and Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, regarding a canceled demonstration at the Red Bull Ring. Despite off-track distractions, Verstappen Sr. stated that his son tends to excel even more when facing interruptions.
Marko hopes that Red Bull’s success on the track will divert attention from the controversy surrounding the canceled demonstration. He praised Verstappen for once again making a difference and providing a significant boost to the team. Verstappen Sr. casually commented that his son’s performance tends to improve when there are more complaints happening in the background, a pattern that has been observed in the past.
