Marko: ‘Grid penalty Verstappen and Perez inevitable sometime this season’

Helmut Marko says it is inevitable that Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez will run into grid penalties this season. According to the Red Bull Racing advisor, it is therefore a matter of choosing the right circuits.

The Formula 1 season is now over half and Red Bull Racing is looking at a surprisingly large lead over Ferrari. The Austrian formation has hit a gap of 82 points, which was partly caused by reliability problems in the Italian camp. Both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have stalled several times this season, with the latter having to start from the back in France due to an engine change.

Gridstraf Red Bull

However, according to Marko, the championship is far from decided. Similarly, Verstappen and Perez will also face a penalty somewhere in the second half of the season because new parts have to be put in the RB18: “We have to choose a circuit where we can easily overtake”, the Austrian is quoted by Auto, motor and sport. “Budapest is a circuit that will probably suit Ferrari better. Only after the summer break will there be races that suit us well.”

Second half of the season

The second half of the season kicks off with the Belgian Grand Prix, where overtaking is usually no problem. Monza is also often a popular location for a grid penalty. Ferrari will introduce an improved variant of the power source after the summer break, so that Sainz will probably run into a grid penalty again.