F1 News
Marko does not see Lawson underperforming: 'Antonelli was the same'
Liam Lawson was off the pace in both Friday practice sessions during the season opener in Australia. The New Zealander could not even manage to climb higher than P17 during the afternoon sessions, a pinful six tenths adrift from team-mate Max Verstappen. Yet this did not worry Helmut Marko.
Red Bull tested different noses for the RB21. Marko satated to GPblog in Melbourne that no decision has yet been made on which spec will be used in the remainder of the weekend. "No. They will analyze the data and then make [a] decision [on] what will be on the car tomorrow," the Austrian advisor said as he left Red Bull garage.
In defense of Lawson
Marko confirmed that there were no major differences between Lawson's and Verstappen's cars. He said the specifications were virtually the same. That there was nevertheless a big difference in terms of fastest time between the two, Marko did not find it particularly shocking. "Liam, you have to compare with Antonelli, who is also the first time here, and they are equal on times."
Incidentally, the same was true for Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar, who made a good impression in FP2 securing a P6. "It was impressive. Fast and no mistakes," said Marko, who also confirmed that the French Algerian talent, known for his temper over radio, had remained particularly calm over the radio.
This article was written in collaboration with Ludo van Denderen.
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