Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko is overjoyed after the qualifying round in Abu Dhabi. Max Verstappen surprised the entire Formula 1 field with his pole position, giving him an edge for the final Grand Prix of the year over his McLaren title rivals. Marko has already started taunting the British team: ‘When Lando starts next to Max, he is usually very nervous’.
It’s time for the final Grand Prix of the year, and thus time for the climax of the title fight. Max Verstappen starts the titanic battle in Abu Dhabi from the best position: the Dutchman secured the pole position on Saturday, much to the delight of advisor Helmut Marko. “Not one, but two fantastic rounds from Max,” Marko can’t suppress his smile when speaking to the media in Abu Dhabi. “The team developed the car in the right direction and then Max did the rest. The car was indeed not good on Friday, but every step we took was an improvement.”
During the second free practice at the Yas Marina Circuit, Lando Norris was still three-tenths faster than the Dutchman, but there was no sign of that in the qualifying round. Then, Verstappen was a good two-tenths faster than the Brit. “Max knew then that he had to drive a perfect round,” Marko continues his analysis of Q3. “The slipstream from Yuki Tsunoda worked, the timing was exactly right, everything was perfect.”
Nervous Norris
However, the fact that Norris still starts the race next to Verstappen from the first starting row is no cause for concern for Marko. “We have to wait and see how the start goes. But when Lando starts next to Max, he is usually very nervous,” concludes the Red Bull executive.
