Helmut Marko has mixed feelings after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Red Bull Racing advisor saw Sergio Perez win, but on the highest step of the podium should have been Max Verstappen. A burst tyre also meant the Dutchman missed out on many points in the world championship.
"All's well that ends well. It's just a shame because we would have extended our lead gigantically," Marko said in a conversation with ORF. Speaking to the Austrian television station, the man from Graz outlined the scenario in which Verstappen could have been eleven points ahead of Hamilton in the World Cup. "At that point, our spirits dropped," he said.
World Championship standings for Red Bull and Verstappen
In the end, the Mercedes driver even looked to have eighteen points back over the 23-year-old Dutchman, but with Hamilton braking on the restart, the differences remain as they were.
In the Constructors' Championship, Red Bull did some excellent business, however, as Valtteri Bottas and Hamilton failed to pick up points, increasing their lead considerably.