Marko: ‘Perez got more penalty seconds than points’

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Helmut Marko

Helmut Marko

Helmut Marko has pointed out the “not ideal” fact that Sergio Perez picked up more penalty seconds than points at the Austrian Grand Prix.

It was a hugely successful two home races for Red Bull, with Max Verstappen winning both of them with ease and Mercedes unable to put together a genuine challenge on either occasion.

Things didn’t go so well for the other car though, with Perez finishing in P4 in the first race and P6 in the second. In the latter, he crossed the line in P5 but lost a place due to two five-second time penalties he was given for forcing Charles Leclerc off the track when defending.

Reflecting on the race, Marko was largely pleased with how things went given Verstappen’s dominant display, but didn’t have too much good stuff to say about Perez’s drive.

“I think that was the highlight of these last three races. This win was even clearer than the two before,” he said as per Sky Deutschland.

“Max drove quite confidently in front. We then also reduced the pace a bit. With our one car, everything was right, including the points.

“Perez collected more penalty seconds than points, which was unfortunately not so ideal.”

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Verstappen has now won three races in a row and Red Bull five, with Perez triumphing at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, giving the team a sizeable lead in both championships.

All four of those circuits were ones that Mercedes have been dominant at in the past and have tasted victory at on multiple occasions.

The same can be also be said for the next track on the calendar, Silverstone, and given how well things are going, Marko says Red Bull don’t have to fear their rivals there or at any other circuit for that matter.

“We are now going to Silverstone with incredible self-confidence,” he said.

“There is no track we have to be afraid of. But still, we know how strong Mercedes is in general and we are prepared for more close battles.”

Toto Wolff says that Mercedes are aiming to “blow everybody away” by dominating the British Grand Prix, but acknowledge that realistically, beating Red Bull is going to be difficult.

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