Marko confident in strategy: 'Much easier than attacking from behind'

Helmut Marko expressed his confidence in the race of Max Verstappen on the Austrian television station ORF. The Red Bull advisor would much rather be on softer tyres for Mercedes, than having to start behind Mercedes on the same set of tyres.

There will be many things at play at the start on Sunday. Verstappen is expected to get away better on the soft tyre compared to Lewis Hamilton on the mediums. The asphalt will also play a big role. Verstappen will start on the clean side of the track, while his rival will start on the dirty side.

Only the Mercedes drivers and Yuki Tsunoda start on the medium tyre. So it remains to be seen whether Hamilton can hold his second position at the start at all, or whether Lando Norris and Sergio Perez can get away better and overtake the Brit.

Red Bull seem well prepared

Marko has already expressed confidence in the long run on the soft tyre. Red Bull have collected a lot of data and will be well prepared for the race. How long Verstappen can drive on in his first stint remains to be seen.

"It also depends on the temperatures. Pole is pole and it is clear that we will shape that from the front. Again, it's much easier than attacking from behind," Marko said. If Verstappen had started behind Hamilton on the same set of tyres it would have been more likely that Hamilton would have been able to pull away from the Dutchman.