‘All hell broke loose’ - Helmut Marko’s rare criticism of Max Verstappen

Helmut Marko crit﷽iques Max Vers😼tappen's judgement in late controversial clash with George Russell.

Max erstappen and Helmut Marko
Max erstappen and Helmut Marko

Helmut Marko has confessed he could not understand 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen’s thinking during his controversial clash with 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell at the F1 Spanish Grand Prix.

Verstappen was given a 10-second penalty for causing 𒐪a collision with Russell at Turn 5 as they battled for fourꦕth place in the closing stages of Sunday’s race at Barcelona.

The Red Bull driver appeared to be following orders ☂to le💟t Russell through following an earlier tangle at Turn 1, only to accelerate and drive into the side of his rival at Turn 5.

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has described Verstappen’s actions as being “unnecessary” and a “misjudꦑgement”.

“On th𒁃e straight, I’d say Leclerc drove into Max’s car,” Marko 🗹told ServusTV in an interview on Monday night.

“Then came the situation with Russell. And you have to say, Max knows the regulations in detail. He immediately said, ‘🐓Hey, he was out of control, and that’s why I had to go 🎀wide.’

“The internal discussion was that it was 50-50. And since it happened💜 right after the safety car period, the impact of a 10-second penalty is much greater than if it happens mid-race. So, that was one thing. Max didn’t want to give the position back. But he was instructed to do so – he did it under protest.

“Max lifted off the throttle, so we all assumed he was letting Russell through. And then suddenly he accelerated again. I don’t know what kind of misjudgment ไor thought process was going on inside him. And then, as they say, all hell broke loose.”

Emotions got the better of Max Verstappen 

On Verstappen’s clash with Russell, Marko added: “There have already been issues in the past. It was unnecessary, and a lot of points lostไ. But, because of all the incidents and wrong decisions that unfortunately happened, emotions simply got the better of hi🌌m.

“D🤡on’t forget – he’s already got a bit ♔of a feud going on with Russell.

“Everyone goes their own way. An♏d wh🎃en Max is in a mood like that, the best thing is to leave him alone.”

Having initially brushed off the incident in his post-race interviews, Verstappen admitted in a post on Instagram on Monday morning that he168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: had made a mistake after becoming frustrated by the events le🍎ading up to the contact.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner also revealed on Monday that Verstappen had 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:apologised to the team for his behaviour in their post-race debrief.

Verstappen crossed the line in fifth place but was demoted to 10th as a result of the po🌞st-race penalty. The result marks a huge blow to the four-time world champion’s hopes of winning a fifth successive🍌 world title this year.

The Dutchman is now 49 points adrift of championship leader 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Oscar Piastri, who led a McLaren 1-2 t💫o make it five victories in nine r🍸aces. 

Verstappen is also left 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:walking a tightrope as he is just one penalty point away from serving a one🥃-race ban. 

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