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Marko satisfied after pole for Verstappen

Marko delighted after pole for Verstappen: 'Immediately a good balance'

28 June at 18:32
2
  • Tim Kraaij

Helmut Marko was a happy man after sprint qualifying. Max Verstappen grabbed pole position for the sprint race and Red Bull looked good from the first lap.

"We are very happy to have taken this pole," Marko said after the session on the paddock in Austria. "This time the car was well balanced from the first lap and then of course Max can drive that lap well."

Marko satisfied after pole for Verstappen

Still, it was a qualifying with two side for Red Bull Racing.  Verstappen took pole, but Sergio Perez did not get beyond seventh place. "I think Sergio was unfortunate. I think Ocon was driving in the way, otherwise he would have been further forward. However, it's a positive start."

Still, the weekend did not go smoothly for Red Bull, with Verstappen having a problem in the first and only free practice session. However, that problem was quickly resolved. "In the first free practice, Verstappen drove over a bump with all four wheels. This disabled a sensor that measures oil pressure."

"So theoretically there was no oil pressure and that should save the engine. Fortunately, it happened before the pit lane, allowing him to roll back. There we were able to deactivate the sensor in order to continue driving," the advisor explained.