F1 News
Marko lets Verstappen off the hook after FP2 crash
Jake Williams-Smith
Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko says he doesn't blame Max Verstappen for the crash the Dutchman suffered during FP2 for the Austrian Grand Prix.
Midway through the second practice session on Friday, Verstappen lost control of his RB15 and spun into the barriers at the final corner, damaging the rear of his Red Bull.
Despite the incident ending his session, Marko said afterwards that he did not blame Verstappen for the incident and instead cited the changing winds as the reason behind the off.
"He suffered from oversteer, that was too much for this track, after that the car was taken away," Marko told media after the session.
"I hope nothing broke off in the back of the gearbox.
"There is a lot of wind, which is also coming pretty hard. This makes the car vulnerable. If the airflow suddenly changes, then you are a passenger."
Verstappen wasn't the only high profile name to suffer an off during the session. Valtteri Bottas suffered a similar fate in between turns five and six, smashing his Mercedes into the barriers after the rear of the W10 stepped out on the Finn during a qualifying simulation.
Sebastian Vettel was another who found himself facing the wrong way but, unlike the Red Bull driver, he managed to keep the Ferrari out of the barriers at the final corner.
