Verstappen disagrees with Marko: 'You can't know that'
Red Bull Contentpool
F1 News
An 'extremely difficult car to drive'. That is how Lando Norris called his McLaren in the run-up to the Chinese Grand Prix. Yet with what he considered an extremely difficult car, the Briton managed to win the opening race, having started from pole and dictated pace all weekend. So, is it really 'extremely difficult'?
Max Verstappen seems unable to imagine. "Which car was he talking about, his own car? Are you sure he wasn't joking?", the Red Bull Racing Dutchman then wondered aloud during his media session in Shanghai. "McLaren is very strong, I have a lot of respect for what they have done there. Last season already, and now again."
According to Verstappen, McLaren's car has an important characteristic. "That car is very versatile, fast on every type of circuit." But the four-time world champion finds it difficult to estimate how big the difference with his own team is. "It is also difficult to compare different scenarios. Last year I was also complaining about my car at the beginning, but then we still won."
Verstappen not on the same page with Marko
Verstappen additionally addressed another statement made by Helmut Marko, Red Bull's advisor. The Austrian indicated in Australia that Red Bull will have closed the gap with inside McLaren in five Grands Prix. Verstappen does not want to repeat such statements. "Because it is impossible to know such a thing," the Telegraph quotes him as saying.
Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels too!