Marko points out the problem: 'Verstappen could have beaten Bottas'

Marko states that Red Bull has largely solved the balance problem. Verstappen came a tenth short of Bottas' time. "The battery management in Q3 was not great. Max could have beaten Bottas and been closer to Hamilton," Marko said.

Hamilton will have to start from 11th place due to a grid penalty after changing his internal combustion engine. In front of the seven-time world champion are four Honda drivers with Verstappen, Pierre Gasly, Sergio Perez and Yuki Tsunoda. Marko is hoping these drivers can slow Hamilton's advance, but he is also hoping for 'help from the competition.

"We also still have Leclerc and Alonso. Fernando is not exactly a fan of his [Hamilton's]," Marko said in front of the camera of Sky's German branch. Alonso has already expressed several times that he would rather see Verstappen as world champion in 2021.