Nicole MulderManaging Editor
Nicole Mulder is Managing Editor at GPblog and a specialist in Formula 1 and MotoGP. With years of experience and permanent FIA accreditation at Grands Prix worldwide, she delivers reliable coverage and insights based on direct access to drivers and the F1 paddock.
Max Verstappen had to fend off Lando Norris in the closing stages of the race in Imola. Helmut Marko analyses the Formula 1 Grand Prix and decided on the decisive factor in the Dutchman's victory. The consultant also cites a remarkable radio message that he thinks did not exactly help Norris.
Marko on deciding factor and remarkable radio message
Before he could start the pursuit of Verstappen, Norris had to make his way past Sergio Perez after his pit stop. Asked if that could have cost the Briton a possible victory, Marko replied. "I don't think that was the decisive factor," he told the German branch of Sky Sports.
"The decisive factor was that we did well on the medium tyre and were slower than McLaren on the hard tyre. After two or three laps, the temperature dropped and the tyres got out of the right working window," the 81-year-old Austrian explained.
Another decisive factor was Max Verstappen. "Incredible performance by Max, who drove absolutely flawlessly," Marko said. "Luckily Norris made a few mistakes when he was chasing Max, preventing him from getting into the DRS zone."
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With the McLaren driver, Marko heard a remarkable radio message, which he cannot imagine helped Norris in his attempts to snatch victory from Verstappen. "It was an interesting radio message from his engineer. He was driving at the absolute limit and then he was told to push even harder. That probably irritated him. That's quite negative for concentration in a situation like this," said the Red Bull advisor.
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