P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Helmut Marko has reacted to Max Verstappen two 10-second time penalties during the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko criticized the FIA for being overly harsh in penalizing Max Verstappen with two separate 10-second penalties during the Mexico City Grand Prix. These penalties impacted Verstappen’s finish and dealt a blow to his championship rival Lando Norris. The incidents occurred while Verstappen was battling Norris for position on lap 10, with one incident involving forcing Norris off the circuit at Turn 4 and the other involving gaining an advantage at Turn 7. Marko expressed disappointment in the penalties, suggesting an overreaction linked to a prior incident in Austin between the same drivers. Despite the penalties, Verstappen lacked the pace to challenge for a podium, as Carlos Sainz claimed victory ahead of Norris and Charles Leclerc. Red Bull’s performance fell short compared to Ferrari and McLaren due to tire grip issues, solidifying a disappointing weekend where they also slipped to third in the constructors’ championship. Marko admitted the lack of competitiveness, particularly with tire wear being a crucial factor, reflecting on a significant performance gap with the competition, especially towards the end of the race.
