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Marko wanted to infect Verstappen with coronavirus: ''That makes them stronger''

30 March 2020 at 09:00
  • GPblog.com

Helmut Marko is not the man of the nuanced quotes and that was also noticed in the program of ORF on Sunday: Sport am Sonntag. There the Red Bull Racing top man was the guest and he made a remarkable statement.

Marko wanted drivers infected with coronavirus

In Australia, Red Bull insisted on racing. The coronavirus had been diagnosed on one of the McLaren staff and that team had already withdrawn for the Grand Prix, but Red Bull wanted to race whatever it must take. However, it now appears that Marko still had ideas about the continuation of his Formula 1 team after the GP.

''We have four F1 drivers and eight to ten juniors and the plan was to go to camp with the whole group. This will allow them to physically and mentally bridge the period, but they could also be infected. However, this would only be a good thing, because they are young and therefore only get stronger'', Marko says.

Stepping into shape

However, the idea was immediately swept off the table by Red Bull, says a smiling Marko. "We discussed it first, but I can't say that it was received positively," says Marko. So it's a brain spinning game, but it's clear that the top man would have liked his drivers to have all the coronavirus.

At home the drivers also stay fit and Marko is very positive about Max Verstappen. ''He drives more races than in a normal season. They also have physiotherapy to keep them in shape, so when the season starts, which will be a tough season, the guys will be ready for it'', Marko concludes.