Marko Credits LeclercS Drive with Easing Verstappen’s Austinโข Victory
Following the United States Grand Prix, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko praised ferrari’s Charlesโฃ Leclerc for a drive that indirectly benefitted Max Verstappen’s championship campaign.With Red Bull having recently conceded over 40 points in the standings,the team benefitted from Leclerc’s performance in Austin,which disrupted the McLaren drivers’ potential point haul.
While a difficult Friday practice initially dampened expectations, leclerc โchallenged Lando Norrisโค throughout the race, ultimately taking points from Oscarโ Piastri. Marko โขacknowledged โthis contribution, stating, โข “I โคshould sendโข him a few โcartons of Red โขBull. He helped us because we weren’t under immediate pressure.” Heโ also noted Red Bullโค possessed strong โฃpace, even with Norris initially holding second position after the โคstart.
Leclerc’s strategic gamble of starting on soft tiresโข proved crucial, โsecuring him second place and allowing him to hold off Norris โfor 51 laps, effectivelyโ clearing the path for Verstappen’s victory. โฃ
Marko dismissedโ suggestions that McLaren’s recent strong form indicated specific track advantages, stating, “There โคare โno more McLaren or Mercedes circuits waiting for us. Nowadays we are talkingโค about differences not onlyโ in tenths, butโ sometimes even thousandths of โขa second.In addition, there is another veryโข big โdifference.” He clarified this “big difference” refers to Max Verstappen’s skill, โemphasizing that Red โbull’s primary advantage lies โฃwith the driver.
He directly refutedโข McLaren boss โAndrea Stella’s assessment that the RB21 is the fastest car onโฃ the grid, declaring, โ “No, I don’t agree with him. We onlyโ haveโฃ the fastest rider.” Verstappen secured 33 points in Austin, further solidifying his championship lead.
When questioned about the timing for placing bets on โคVerstappen โฃwinning the championship, Markoโข offered a playful response: “If you likeโ taking risks, take them.”
