Helmut Marko Challenges Stewards’ Decision on Verstappen Penalty

Helmut Marko, Red Bull motorsport advisor, has expressed his disagreement with the stewards’ decision to impose a five-second penalty on Max Verstappen for passing Oscar Piastri off-track during the first lap of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Marko’s Perspective on the Incident

In an interview with Sky Germany, Marko stated, “I think the race was lost at the start. And really, where was Max supposed to go?” He further added, “We watched the Formula 2 races, and the same thing happened to two or three drivers. They were only given warnings. So in our view, the five-second penalty was a bit harsh…

Marko insisted that it was merely a racing incident. “Yes, Piastri was ahead at the start, but at the very last braking zone, Max was slightly ahead again,” he continued. “But it is what it is.

Red Bull’s Performance and Future Prospects

Despite the penalty, Marko acknowledged that Red Bull had the pace and tire wear was under control. However, he lamented the difficulty of overtaking in races. “After the penalty, we focused on securing P2,” he said.

Marko also claimed that Verstappen would have “absolutely” won the race had it not been for the penalty. He explained, “You could see it – he pulled a three-second gap early on. Piastri was already complaining about tire degradation. When you’re following another car, it’s always tougher. And on the second stint with the hard tires, when Max really pushed to the limit, we were closing in again.

Red Bull’s Confidence and Future Plans

Despite a disappointing result, Marko expressed confidence in Red Bull’s performance moving forward. “If someone had told us on Friday that we’d finish second, we’d have celebrated,” he said to Austrian radio station ORF. “But the car changes were so effective that we’re obviously a bit deflated not to bring home the win.

When asked about Verstappen’s 12-point gap to championship leader Piastri, Marko remained unfazed. “That’s not alarming,” he said. “I remember with Vettel we once had a 40-point gap and still won the title.” He also expressed optimism about the team-mate rivalry between Verstappen and Lando Norris, stating, “We’d prefer if they alternate wins – it means they’re taking points from each other. I don’t think either of them is going to play second fiddle. That’s a big opportunity for us if they start battling each other.