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Marko questions stewards in F1: 'An example had to be set'
Helmut Marko insists the hefty penalties imposed on Max Verstappen during the Mexican Grand Prix were done simply to set an example. Red Bull Racing's external advisor wants to ensure there are neutral people within the stewards office going forward.
The stewards' decision on Verstappen has been a key talking point in the week between the races in Mexico and Brazil. Verstappen received two ten-second penalties in one single lap while battling against Lando Norris. One of the penalties was for a similar incident to Norris' penalty in the United States Grand Prix, for which the British driver picked up five seconds.
Speaking to OE24, Marko commented: "The heavy penalty for our driver was meant to set an example. The problem is that sometimes the stewards decide this and other times this. There is no clear line, there is no consistency."
Marko, therefore, makes an appeal that is in line with what Jos Verstappen has suggested. "There should be uniform rules. We don't necessarily need ex-drivers, we need professional stewards: Neutral people who make objective judgements according to fixed rules. This is where the FIA comes in," said the Austrian. Herbert will be part of the stewarding team this weekend in Brazil.
What changes does Marko want?
Meanwhile, Marko has also suggested that changes to the circuits should be made so that drivers cannot run wide. He uses the Red Bull Ring in Austria as an example. In 2023, there were many track limit problems, but that problem was removed in 2024 as the gravel trap came closer to the circuit. "Last year over a hundred track limits were breached, this year there were only two or three. If there were consistent gravel along the tracks, the problem would be 95 per cent solved," Marko suggested.
This article has been created in collaboration with Ludo van Denderen