Marko has good news for Verstappen: 'No worries about brakes in Japan'

For Verstappen, the Australian Grand Prix lasted less than four laps last weekend. After he was overtaken by eventual winner Carlos Sainz, his brake on the right rear of the RB20 had a problem and there was nothing for him to do but drive back to the pit lane. End of race and no points for the world championship. It was the first time in two years and 43 races that Verstappen did not finish in the top-ten.

Immediately after the race at Melbourne Park, this website asked brake supplier Brembo what caused Verstappen's failure. In an initial response, the Italian company revealed that the problem had nothing to do with their equipment or components. Brembo claimed that a wrong set-up or choice by Red Bull regarding the configuration of the car was to blame for the DNF. The brake supplier later backtracked slightly on that by adding that that was "probably" the cause.

Marko on Verstappen's failure

Helmut Marko, meanwhile, also has more information. "Max [Verstappen's] brake broke down, the exact cause is still being investigated. But it's not down to the caliper. It's more an assembly problem, but that is being checked," Marko said, seeming to confirm Brembo's reading. "For Japan I don't have any worries, that's not a problem."

Despite Verstappen's lead in the world championship being just four points over Charles Leclerc, the 26-year-old Dutchman does appear as the absolute top favourite at the start in Suzuka. In 2022 and 2023 - when the Japanese GP was held towards the end of the season - he won convincingly. Marko, therefore, has high expectations again, he told Laola1. "Suzuka is a power circuit that suits us, Max is always great there. I am very optimistic."