P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Helmut Marko downplayed Max Verstappen’s deficit to Lando Norris at the Red Bull Ring, ahead of the weekend battle for Austrian Grand Prix victory.
During the opening day of the Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko identified where Max Verstappen lost time to McLaren. Verstappen ended second practice in third place, trailing Lando Norris by three-tenths of a second. Marko stated that Verstappen’s deficit is not significant, although not having a new engine is affecting his performance. Verstappen’s biggest weakness was found in the middle sector on Friday, where he lost almost two-tenths of a second to McLaren. Marko highlighted that McLaren corrects easily when sliding, making their car more controllable compared to Red Bull’s. Despite the challenges, Marko emphasized that Red Bull is not far behind McLaren and remains competitive in the Grand Prix.
