Marko won't do anything 'risky': "Main opponent is Hamilton"

Max Verstappen missed out on pole position, although the fastest time of the day would have been possible without a red flag, according to Helmut Marko. The Red Bull Racing advisor says Verstappen won't go crazy tomorrow because of the fierce battle with Lewis Hamilton for the world championship.

"Our main opponent is Hamilton," Marko said in a conversation with Servus TV. The 78-year-old Austrian says he will not do 'risky' things in the battle with Ferrari for victory in Monaco.

Verstappen eager

Still, the Milton Keynes-based outfit's top man knows that a driver like Verstappen will not stay second without looking at where the chances are for a win in the narrow streets of Monte Carlo. "We have Max Verstappen. And if he sees an opportunity, he will try to take it."

A fifth pole position for Verstappen in Formula 1 was not in the cards this weekend due to adverse conditions. Based on pure speed it would have been possible, Marko argues: "Max was ahead of Leclerc according to our data, but then the red flag came..."