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Marko counts on a 'nervous' Norris: 'He always is alongside Verstappen'

16:56, 06 Dec

byTim Kraaij

Helmut Marko expects Lando Norris to be nervous before the start of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. According to the Austrian, the Brit always is when he lines up alongside Max Verstappen.

“If Lando starts next to Max, normally he is very nervous.”

- Helmut Marko

“Not one, but two,” says a beaming Helmut Marko after qualifying in Abu Dhabi to GPblog when asked about Verstappen’s strong lap.

Asked whether it was also because Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri hadn’t extracted the maximum from the McLaren, the Austrian replied: “They’ve (Red Bull) developed the car in the right direction and Max did the rest.”

Marko was still worried on Friday about Verstappen’s title fight, but the team once again made excellent progress over the course of the weekend. While the RB21 struggled a lot with understeer on Friday, Verstappen’s car seemed back on rails. Even Yuki Tsunoda made it to Q3 and was able to do his teammate an important favor with a slipstream.

Verstappen helped by Tsunoda

“The car wasn’t good on Friday. Every step we took was an improvement. And then he (Verstappen) knows he knew he has to deliver the perfect lap. The slipstream with Yuki worked. The timing, everything was perfect.”

Tsunoda gave Verstappen a slipstream on his first run, but didn’t do so for run two. Marko indicated that this wasn’t Red Bull’s plan anyway. Tsunoda also had to set his own time, but could do no better than P10.

For Sunday, Marko thinks the team also has a good car. “The changes we made… Our long-run pace wasn’t so bad either.”

Helmut Marko knows Lando Norris is always nervous alongside Max Verstappen - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

George Russell narrowly missed out on qualifying ahead of the two McLarens, something that could have suited Verstappen well. Now Verstappen starts directly alongside rival Norris, which, according to Marko, could trouble the latter. “We have to see how the start goes. If Lando starts next to Max, normally he is very nervous.”

Oscar Piastri starts from P3. For him, the first lap could be all-or-nothing. The Australian needs to finish first or second anyway to have any chance of the title. “He is also in the world championship,” Marko concluded with a big smile.