After a strong start to the season, Max Verstappen seemed to be heading for the Formula 1 title again unchallenged, but in recent races McLaren driver Lando Norris has reduced the gap to 62 points. With eight races to go and his good form, it was not unthinkable that the Briton would reduce the gap even further in Baku, but after qualifying the chances of that happening are much smaller. Norris dropped out in Q1 and will have to start the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from seventeenth place on Sunday. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko told the German branch of Sky Sports F1 that it is good news for their own chances, but also states that the title race is far from over.
“If you go out relatively late and you see a yellow flag, that’s either bad luck or you’ve taken too much risk,” begins the Austrian, who thinks there are plenty of opportunities for Norris to move further up in the race. “It’s easy to overtake here and he and the car are quick enough, but to be at the front he needs a safety car – and that can happen here.”
Red Bull Racing’s qualifying was also unconvincing. The drivers did make it to Q3, but the Austrian team did not get further than a fourth place for Sergio Pérez and sixth for Max Verstappen. “On the positive side, we had the speed, Max made one of his rare mistakes in turn 16 and that cost us six tenths. So a second place would certainly have been possible”, says Marko about the result. Verstappen almost slid sideways in the last corner and lost a lot of time there. “If he had done the first lap well, he would have had more confidence for the second. It was not a big mistake, but this is Baku and you can overtake here. Checo’s long run also looked good in terms of tyre wear, so there is a realistic chance that we will make progress in the race.”
More reactions after Saturday in Baku:
