Marko points to 'Disastrous' scenario for Verstappen: 'Luckily, Kimi reacted well'

20:29, 03 May

Updated: 21:31, 03 May

byNicole Mulder

Helmut Marko acknowledges that Red Bull Racing is responsible for the pit lane incident between Max Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli during the Sprint of the Grand Prix of Miami. The advisor describes the incident as a clear mistake by the team and believes a ten-second time penalty is therefore justified, he said in an interview with GPblog.

Marko reacts to Verstappen's ten-second penalty in Miami

Verstappen broke his front wing after making contact with Antonelli's Mercedes. According to Marko, the rookie's reaction prevented a 'disastrous' scenario by after he skipped his pit stop.

The 82-year-old Austrian blames the Austrian F1 team. "He was released too early, and fortunately Antonelli reacted well and went straight. Otherwise, it could have been a disaster. But it was our fault," Marko exclusively to GPblog.

The FIA imposed a ten-second penalty on Verstappen, which Marko fully agrees with: "Yes, it was correct."

How Verstappen himself reacted to the penalty, Marko cannot yet say. "I haven’t spoken to him yet. It’s a shame, because they (the McLarens) were already losing about four seconds per lap. It would have been a close race."

Verstappen was already critical about the incident at the Miami International Autodrome. The was on the same page as Marko and pointed out that his team made a mistake. “Very sloppy”, he told Viaplay. Verstappen, who finished seventeenth in the sprint due to his time penalty, was not particularly positive about the pace of his RB21.

This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sárközi