General

Marko says 'something like this can't just happen to Ferrari', Wolff agrees

1 October 2022 at 17:08
  • GPblog.com

Everything went horribly wrong for Red Bull Racing at the Singapore Grand Prix. Max Verstappen was given fuel for five laps but aborted his fifth lap. Then in his sixth lap, he appeared to be on his way to pole position but was called in by his team. Toto Wolff watched it happen from the Mercedes pit box.

Wolff and Marko on Verstappen's lack of fuel

The Mercedes team boss takes issue with ORF over the big Austrian rival. "That can happen, you just miscalculate and it was more laps anyway. It happens to good teams too," said Wolff, who also saw Lewis Hamilton make a mistake in the last sector. "As a result, we lost almost a second. The tyres blocked and so we lost time. It would have been exciting with Max, probably we would have finished second."

Helmut Marko also told the Austrian television station afterwards that a mistake had occurred. "Something like this can't only happen to Ferrari. But here it is of course doubly sour," the consultant was referring to missing out on pole position. At Red Bull, the grapes are incredibly sour and Verstappen is currently unbeatable. The World Championship leader left the Marina Bay Street Circuit immediately after the mandatory press moments. Verstappen did not attend Red Bull's debrief.

Nevertheless, Red Bull still has a good chance of victory. Indeed, Sergio Perez will start from the second position alongside pole-sitter Charles Leclerc. From behind, however, the Mexican will have to reckon with pressure from Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz.