Marko disappointed in "average start" from Verstappen in Japan

Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko is disappointed that his driver Max Verstappen wasn't able to be quicker at the start of the Japanese Grand Prix, as the Austrian thinks that the 21-year-old could've put the pressure on Lewis Hamilton if he did.

Verstappen started directly behind the two Mercedes cars in P3, but didn't manage to start fast enough to pose a serious threat to either of the Silver Arrows. He even locked up and went on the grass, clipping Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari on his way back on the track, earning the Dutchman a five-second penalty.

Later on in the race, he did put pressure on Valtteri Bottas in P2 but he couldn't come close enough to attempt an overtake, with the Finn defending well in the final stages of the race at Suzuka.

"Max didn't start badly - I would say it was an average start," Marko looked back when speaking to Auto Motor und Sport.