Helmut Marko Mocks McLaren’s Strategy Blunder at Italian Grand Prix, Boosts Red Bull’s Hopes

Helmut Marko takes a jab at McLaren regarding "sportsmanship" during the Italian Grand Prix, saying, "I value that, and it slightly improves our position."

Helmut Marko humorously expressed gratitude towards McLaren for their “sportsmanship” after they squandered the chance to win the Italian Grand Prix F1 race.

McLaren is currently only eight points away from Red Bull in the Formula 1 constructors' championship.

The team from Woking might have topped the leaderboard after the Monza race if they had managed to finish in the first and second positions.

Nevertheless, opting to change Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to a two-stop strategy proved to be an expensive mistake for them.

This enabled Charles Leclerc to seize the front position in the race, maintaining it while following a one-stop strategy.

By securing third place, Norris managed to cut Max Verstappen's advantage in the drivers' championship by just eight points, leaving Verstappen with a 62-point lead going into the Azerbaijan race.

In an interview with the Dutch newspaper de Telegraaf, Marko rejected the notion that the outcome was “disappointing” and went on to ridicule McLaren.

"Was the outcome a letdown? Absolutely not,” he remarked. “We had an inkling this might happen, and I’d like to extend my congratulations to Ferrari for their win and express my gratitude to McLaren for their fair play."

“I’m grateful for that, and it improves our circumstances somewhat."

Red Bull had a tough weekend, as Verstappen managed to secure only a sixth-place finish.

His sixth-place result is his lowest on-track finish since the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in 2022.

Due to Red Bull's significant challenges, they are at risk in both championship standings, especially with the upcoming races in Baku and Singapore, which are anticipated to be unfavorable for them.

The positive aspect for Red Bull is that there is a one-month break before the series of races in the United States, providing them with valuable time to possibly discover ways for Verstappen to secure his fourth world championship this year.

Marko is still sure that Verstappen will stand out again in 2024.

“He’s still the top driver both mentally and in terms of quality,” he added.

Explore More

Recent Updates

Recent Updates

Site Map

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

It is prohibited to reproduce text, photos, or illustrations, either in full or in part, in any manner.