Marko analyses: "Verstappen changed at crucial moment"

"The rain helped us, Max changed to intermediates at the crucial moment," a happy Marko said on the microphone to the German branch of RTL. Thanks to the second place, Hamilton picked up just seven more points in Russia and the difference in the world championship is just two points in favour of the seven-time world champion.

Halfway through the race, on lap 27, Verstappen dived in behind Hamilton to swap his hard tyres for mediums. In the end, that proved to have been a little too quick, but the precipitation provided the solution. "Max made great progress at the start, but unfortunately the tyres suffered as a result. A podium would not have been possible if it hadn't rained."

Marko knows Mercedes are 33 points ahead of Red Bull in the constructors' championship, but the Austrian is confident of a good outcome with seven Grands Prix to go. "The circuits coming up now are in our favour. Especially at altitude in Brazil and Mexico. We have to win and we will attack", he promises.