General
Marko was shocked: "We don't understand that yet"
- GPblog.com
Red Bull Racing started the Austrian Grand Prix weekend as the big favourite, but in the end, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez could not live up to their role as favourites. Both Ferraris were faster in the race and in the end victory went to Charles Leclerc. Marko is ultimately happy that the Monegasque only managed to catch up with Verstappen by six points.
"After the superior days before, it came as a surprise," Marko told Sky's German branch after the race at the Red Bull Ring. Especially the problems with the tyres were unexpected. The tyre degradation of the hard tyre was particularly high. "On the last set [mediums] everything worked again with the wear and temperatures. It was very strange. We don't understand that yet. I hope we can solve it, but we'll settle for second place for now."
Sainz helps Red Bull
For a while it looked like Verstappen would finish third in Spielberg, but an engine problem with Carlos Sainz allowed the 24-year-old Dutchman to move up a place. On his set of mediums, he also set the fastest lap in the closing stages of the race. This meant 19 points for Verstappen and 25 for Leclerc. On Saturday, however, the world championship leader scored an extra point, so in fact, he only lost five points over the weekend.
Marko: "We also have the fastest lap. It's damage limitation within the bounds of possibility." Sainz's retirement was also very welcome for Red Bull in the constructors' standings. Sergio Perez parked his RB18 in the garage early on after a touch with George Russell on the opening lap and so there were fears of a Ferrari catch-up, but none materialised.
No panic for Marko
At The Telegraph the advisor to the Milton Keynes-based racing team said he was not worried after the perhaps slightly disappointing result. "Ferrari and we have been on more or less the same level all year. It's about small things. We're not worried, it's not like we're losing the championship here..."