Marko knows why Perez failed to escape Q1: 'You can see that in Max'

Things did not go great for Verstappen on Friday. The first free practice session was already fairly problematic for the Dutchman, but the second was also far from ideal. Indeed, the RB20 was smoking after problems with the ERS. "If you consider what happened yesterday, we are actually doing well. We caught up," Marko told ServusTV after qualifying. He knows where the gains can be made. "Our warm-up lap was too fast, so Verstappen's tyres degraded too quickly in the last sector."

Marko on Mercedes and Perez

Mercedes is getting closer and closer to Red Bull Racing, Marko also noticed during qualifying. "They have made a step forward and they are two or three kilometres per hour ahead of us, especially in all three sectors. So that shows they are also doing well aerodynamically," said the 81-year-old Austrian.

Perez was done after Q1 in Canada. The driver finished 16th. All in all, it is becoming increasingly painful for the Mexican. "It's not because of the car, you can see that from Max. I think it's more psychological. It was close and when the conditions change, he finds it much harder. But the fact that it is now the third time is painful," Marko concluded.