Helmut Marko saw Max Verstappen set the fastest time of the session in Q3, but pole position did not go to the Red Bull Racing driver. Due to exceeding the track limits, the race director took away Verstappen's time. Marko does have an explanation for the fact that the Dutch driver ended up with four wheels off the track.
"He got a gust of wind that knocked him off," Marko is quoted by Sky Germany. In Turn 4, Verstappen went too wide, but according to the Red Bull advisor, Verstappen himself couldn't do much about it.
A tense relationship with Mercedes
Mercedes and Red Bull admit almost nothing to each other, so relations are strained. Because of the move of Mercedes-engineer Ben Hodgkinson to the Austrian team, relations have become even more strained. "The atmosphere is a bit tense after a part of the engine department moved to us", Marko also knows.
The man from Graz is curious how Hamilton will hold up for the rest of the season and how he will deal with the constant pressure from Verstappen. "Lewis is not used to another team and another driver competing on equal terms with him," said Marko, who thinks the seven-time world champion will face some tough challenges.