Marko sees smear campaign against Verstappen and is not amused!

Helmut Marko notes that Max Verstappen's driving style is being unfairly questioned in the closing stages of the 2021 season. The 78-year-old man from Graz argues that it is 'not fair' to accuse Verstappen or his behaviour (on the track) of being unsportsmanlike.

According to Marko, attempts are being made to blacken Verstappen's reputation from every possible angle. There would be a real smear campaign against the Dutchman."They try to blame him even before the race, but first, the incident has to be investigated to see who was really to blame. I remember Silverstone and what happened was unbelievable. I don't think it's fair to campaign like that against a 24-year-old boy."

Verstappen isolated

The Austrian advisor sees his pupil being made out to be a bad, overly aggressive driver. In Marko's view, this is not true. "We told him not to look at social media, not to read the press, he concentrates on his work and he brings the result home," he is quoted by Italian Autosprint. "We have the feeling that there is a campaign going on against him."

Red Bull have thus tried to 'isolate' Verstappen as much as possible in preparation for the all-important weekend in Abu Dhabi. Like Christian Horner and Toto Wolff, Marko hopes the stewards will not have to be deployed in the battle for the World Championship title at the Yas Marina Circuit. The top man did conclude by saying that if there are penalties, they must be fair and not always be aimed at Verstappen.