Marko Anticipates 'Nervous' Norris Alongside Verstappen in Abu Dhabi
Helmut Marko, Red Bull's advisor, believes Lando Norris will be 'very nervous' starting alongside Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi, drawing on past observations. This comes as Verstappen secured pole, overcoming earlier car struggles, and with McLaren's drivers also in contention for championship points, setting the stage for a tense race start and an intriguing psychological battle.
Red Bull's Helmut Marko expects Lando Norris to be unusually nervous lining up next to Max Verstappen for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, citing a historical pattern whenever the two rivals share the front row. Marko's comments come after a strong qualifying performance from Verstappen, securing pole position despite earlier weekend struggles for Red Bull.
Why it matters:
Red Bull's dramatic turnaround from Friday's practice sessions to pole position in qualifying highlights their engineering prowess and Verstappen's ability to extract maximum performance. This sets up a potentially thrilling race in Abu Dhabi, with championship implications not only for Verstappen but also for McLaren's drivers who are vying for higher championship standings. Marko's psychological game-playing adds an extra layer of intrigue to the pre-race build-up.
The details:
- Verstappen's Performance: Max Verstappen secured pole position in Abu Dhabi, executing a "strong lap" according to a beaming Helmut Marko, who noted "Not one, but two" referring to Verstappen's dominance.
- McLaren's Qualifying: Marko suggested that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri might not have maximized their McLaren's potential in qualifying.
- Red Bull's Progress: Despite significant understeer issues on Friday, Red Bull made "excellent progress" throughout the weekend, with the RB21 appearing "back on rails" by qualifying.
- Tsunoda's Role: Yuki Tsunoda provided a crucial slipstream to Verstappen during his first run in qualifying, assisting the Red Bull driver to achieve his pole time. This was a planned strategy, though Tsunoda focused on his own lap for the second run, ultimately qualifying P10.
- Race Pace Confidence: Marko expressed confidence in Red Bull's race car for Sunday, noting that "Our long-run pace wasn't so bad either" following the changes made to the car.
- Norris's Nerves: Helmut Marko specifically commented on Lando Norris's temperament, stating, "If Lando starts next to Max, normally he is very nervous." This sets up a psychological battle even before the lights go out.
- Piastri's Championship Hunt: Oscar Piastri starts from P3, with Marko jokingly acknowledging, "He is also in the world championship," implying the high stakes for the McLaren driver who needs a top-two finish to have any title hopes.
What's next:
The start of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be critical, especially with the front row featuring Verstappen and Norris. Marko's comments about Norris's potential nervousness could play into the mind games, while Piastri's all-or-nothing approach from P3 will also be a key factor to watch. The race will ultimately test Red Bull's improved long-run pace and McLaren's ability to convert their qualifying performance into a strong race result.