Marko says Piastri getting the better of Verstappen: 'This is why!'
Updated: 21:52, 25 Jul 2025
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Co-author:Luke-John Buckle
Estéban den Toom is an editor at GPblog, specializing in Formula 1. With a background in journalism and a keen eye for detail, he delivers daily, reliable coverage and analysis of technical developments and on-track strategy within the sport.
Helmut Marko knows where the problem lies for Red Bull and Max Verstappen compared to McLaren. Oscar Piastri was almost half a second faster than the Red Bull driver during sprint qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps, but the Austrian also paid Piastri a huge compliment.
Verstappen was a long way behind Piastri on Friday.“Four tenths, and that in just one sector. It's simply about downforce. If we add more downforce (via the wings), then we lose a lot on the straight stretches of sectors 1 and 3. We need to find a compromise, but that lap from Piastri was incredible. As said, it was not just against us," says Marko on German television.
Red Bull brought updates to Spa-Francorchamps. Verstappen has already been asked whether he was pleased with the updates so far. The four-time Formula 1 world champion said the following about this.“Of course, it's always difficult to say exactly what they (McLaren) are doing during a sprint weekend, but when you then look at the gap, it's obviously not what we want.”
Tsunoda had a worse Friday than Verstappen
Yuki Tsunoda, Verstappen's teammate, was slightly less satisfied about his sprint qualification in the Belgian Ardennes. The Red Bull driver also miscalculated the delta time, leading him to report to the stewards afterwards. On Saturday, Tsunoda starts from P12. He therefore has to deliver a superb race to end up in the points.
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