Max Verstappen managed to end his Saturday on a high note by securing the third starting position at Zandvoort. Prior to the qualification, it was uncertain whether the home hero would make it into the top five, but in the end, Verstappen only had to yield to the McLaren drivers. Advisor Helmut Marko is delighted: ‘Max did a fantastic job’.
Before the qualification, it was uncertain whether Max Verstappen could make it into the top five, but the driver completed the Orange party with a spot in the top three. The Dutchman had to concede almost three-tenths to the McLaren drivers. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko is certainly overjoyed.
“Our engineers did a fantastic job, as did Max,” Marko tells Sky Deutschland. “This morning we were still eight-tenths behind, and now we only lost time in the first sector.” Verstappen was still more than nine-tenths slower than first-place Lando Norris during the last free practice. “For us, it’s a positive surprise. It’s nerve-wracking that you have to wait until the qualification before the car finally works well.”
‘Max might surprise in the race’
Verstappen’s unexpected starting position in the top three immediately gives Marko hope for a good race result a day later. “I believe that the changes we made to the RB21 will also work in the race,” the Austrian continues. “Max knows how and where he can drive fast. In addition, we were on par with McLaren on the used tires. Maybe Max can surprise after all.”
