P1racenews AI automatic summary:
“Nobody believed it. But I told Max that morning to think positively. And then we saw what was possible.”
Helmut Marko has admitted that there were doubts within the Red Bull team about Max Verstappen’s chances of finishing on the podium at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Verstappen ultimately finished in third place after a strong performance on soft tires in the second half of the race. Despite struggling initially due to an incident with Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen’s one-stop strategy allowed him to make some impressive overtakes. Marko was the only one who remained positive about Verstappen’s prospects, and the Dutch driver proved him right with his performance. Verstappen’s title chances remain uncertain as he is currently 36 points behind Lando Norris, who won the Mexico City race with a dominant performance. The upcoming races in Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi will present different challenges for Verstappen and his main rival Norris, making the championship battle intriguing.
