F1 News
Marko makes bet with Lambiase on Verstappen's start: 'I won!'
- Ludo van Denderen
Once it was Helmut Marko who dared to let a 16-year-old talent called Max Verstappen debut in Formula 1. Since then, that boy of those days has grown into the best F1 driver on the grid. At the age of 26, Verstappen has already grabbed three world titles and 51 Grand Prix victories. Marko will never have had any regrets about giving Verstappen the chance at Red Bull Racing.
Whatever position Verstappen seems to start from, he is the favourite for victory. Last week in Mexico, the Dutchman started behind the two Ferraris in third position, but already at the first corner, Verstappen was driving in the lead. After glancing into his crystal ball, Marko had expected this, he revealed - with a smile - to Motorsport.com.
Would Verstappen be leading at the first corner?
The external advisor had even bet with Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen's race engineer. According to Marko, Verstappen would already be leading going into the first corner, 'GP' thought otherwise. Although there is the small note that Charles Leclerc was still briefly in first at the entry of the first corner, Verstappen came out first. Marko thus won the bet. "With Max, I don't bet anymore, but with GP I did. It was the second time and I also won twice," laughed the Austrian.
In the end, Verstappen also drove to victory from first place, with Lewis Hamilton well behind. Even the red flag and thus the restart did not bother Verstappen, although Marko was a little apprehensive about what would come. Indeed, that red flag came at an unfortunate time for Red Bull, the consultant reported, as it put pressure on the tactical plan. " Max had an extra set of hard tyres compared to everyone else, so therefore that red flag came out a bit unfortunate," Marko looked back.