Helmut Marko Acknowledges Verstappen’s “Luck” in Securing Austrian GP Sprint Pole

Red Bull Advisor Reveals Technical Issue During Practice

Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor, has acknowledged that Max Verstappen needed “all the luck in the world” to bounce back from a technical issue during the sole Formula 1 practice session and secure pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix Sprint. According to Marko, Verstappen’s car came to a halt on the pit straight during FP1 due to a disabled oil pressure sensor, which was triggered when the Dutchman drove over a bump in Turn 1. Fortunately for Red Bull, the incident occurred in a location that allowed the team to push the car back into the garage, deactivate the sensor, and get Verstappen back on track with minimal time lost.

“We’re very happy to have achieved this pole position,” Marko stated. “In the first practice session, Max drove straight ahead in Turn 1 and unfortunately went over these humps with almost all four wheels and that disabled a sensor that indicates oil pressure, so theoretically there was no oil pressure.”

When asked if Red Bull was concerned about potential penalties for Verstappen rolling back down the track during a subsequent red flag period, Marko dismissed the notion. “I believe that our Jonathan Wheatley, our sporting director, has a very good handle on all these rules and is in communication with the stewards,” he explained. “And you can’t roll back quickly anyway!”

Red Bull’s Adaptation to Sprint Format

Prior to the weekend, Marko had expressed concerns about Red Bull’s ability to adapt to the Sprint format, which features only one practice session. However, the team’s RB20 car proved competitive from the outset, enabling Verstappen to pip McLaren’s Lando Norris to the top spot by a margin of 0.093s.

“This time the car was also good right from the start,” Marko beamed. “It’s no secret: the last few races we’ve had to do three practice sessions and qualifying to get the balance right. This time the car was in a good balance right from the start and then of course Max did the lap.”

Verstappen’s pole position comes as a welcome boost for Red Bull, as the team looks to extend its lead in the Formula 1 standings. With the Austrian Grand Prix Sprint set to take place this weekend, fans can expect an action-packed race, especially considering the competitive nature of the Sprint format. Stay updated with the latest Formula 1 news, and get ready for an exciting weekend of racing.

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