Max Verstappen has impressed Helmut Marko again. The 78-year old Austrian saw his pupil deliver a great lap. After the qualifying session for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix he again praised the performance of Verstappen.

Marko told the German branch of Sky that they told Verstappen before qualifying that he had to do another 'Jeddah lap'. Verstappen clearly understood that message, because he drove a lap at the Yas Marina Circuit that Christian Horner said was'insane'.

Perez plays role

In the interview, the Red Bull Racing advisor further thanks second driver Sergio Perez for perfectly executing the slipstream in the first run of Q3. It netted Verstappen about one to two tenths and so he can start from pole position.

Verstappen will do so on softs, where Hamilton will start on mediums. Marko says Verstappen's mediums from Q2 were too damaged to drive on Sunday. Red Bull doesn't want to take any risks, although the strategic options are less according to Marko.