Marko on excelling Verstappen: 'Apart from that it was perfect'

Max Verstappen takes home 26 points after the weekend Spanish Grand Prix. Helmut Marko is very pleased with his driver's fifth win this season. Afterwards, the 80-year-old Austrian top man also addresses the fact that Verstappen insisted on driving the fastest time.

"It was relatively easy for Max, although the choice of hard tyre was not optimal. That's where we lost a bit of time. Apart from that, it was perfect," Marko explained on Austrian television at broadcaster ORF. The two-time world champion led the race from start to finish and had a lead of almost 25 seconds over Lewis Hamilton at the lead.

Verstappen still puts in a little push

However, Verstappen almost got another five-second time penalty. The Dutchman exceeded the track limits three times and a further one would have earned him a penalty from the stewards. Verstappen was told several times by Gianpiero Lambiase that he really needed to colour within the lines from now on. However, the World Championship leader also wanted to push for the fastest lap, something Red Bull was not necessarily waiting for.

Marko can laugh about it. "And then he also wanted to go for the extra World Cup point, even though his tyres were nowhere near as good as Checo's. But you just can't get that out of him," said the adviser, who also commented on Sergio Perez's race. "Checo drove a good race, but the start was bad. Russell drove in front of him, otherwise a podium might have been possible."