Marko refrains from criticising Perez: 'Would definitely have made the podium'

What should have been the highlight of his Formula 1 season for Sergio Perez ended in heartbreak. The Mexican hoped to perform a heroic feat in front of his home crowd and make a challenge for the lead, but instead saw his race end at the first corner. Helmut Marko was lenient on the Red Bull Racing driver after the Mexico Grand Prix.

Marko is lenient on Perez after drama in home race

"The opportunity was there, he was on the outside and Leclerc was on the inside. It was a racing incident. You can't blame anyone for that," Marko assessed after the Mexican GP. "It is unfortunate, though, that we lost 19 points to Hamilton." Indeed, had the Mercedes driver not been eliminated from the results of the F1 race in Austin, the drivers would be much closer.

According to the Red Bull advisor, Perez had a fine weekend in Mexico City until his elimination. "Until the first lap it was a super performance and I am convinced he would have finished on the podium in the race," concluded the 80-year-old Austrian.

On Max Verstappen's performance, Marko is full of praise as always. He even thinks the Dutchman could have won with an even bigger lead: "We were still on a two-stopper and I think without the red flag it would have worked even better for us. Then we would have had an even bigger lead," Marko said.