Marko: Red Bull still a serious threat for pole position: 'We look good'

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Marko sees chances for Verstappen and Red Bull in Zandvoort qualifying
23 August at 20:00
Last update 23 August at 20:06
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  • Nicole Mulder

Following the second free practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix, Helmut Marko didn't have many positives about Red Bull Racing's pace. He referred in particular to the long runs of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. In contrast, however, his expectations for Saturday's qualifying are more positive.

Does Marko have good news for Verstappen after all?

Speaking to GPblog, Marko revealed that the RB20's balance is not as good as the team hoped. Consequently, the 81-year-old Austrian was unhappy with the pace in the long run. However, the speed over a single lap looked better, meaning Red Bull will instead be hoping for a strong qualifying, as overtaking is not particularly easy at Zandvoort.

"I think we look good in qualifying," Marko is quoted by Motorsport-Magazin.com. Moreover, the advisor says Red Bull did not drive at full power on Friday, unlike the competition. The Austrian does foresee one problem for Sunday's race: McLaren's Lando Norris seems to be less affected by tyre degradation, he believes.

Therefore, the biggest opportunities for Verstappen and Red Bull may lie in qualifying on Saturday. In Marko's view, there is certainly a good chance of pole position for his Red Bull team. Given that overtaking is not easy, a strong result becomes much easier when starting from the front of the grid. "I think once you are in front here, it doesn't really matter if you lose a few tenths more," Marko stressed. All will be revealed come qualifying tomorrow.

This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon