Marko hits back at Brundle's Verstappen F1 theory

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has shut down Martin Brundle's theory that Max Verstappen was driving deliberately slowly during the Dutch Grand Prix.

Lando Norris secured his second career victory, taking the chequered flag 22 seconds ahead of Verstappen.

Norris was forced to launch an attack on the local favourite after losing the lead from pole position into Turn 1 - however after regaining the lead, the McLaren driver was unchallenged for the remainder of the race.

Brundle suggested after the race that Verstappen dialled down his pace on purpose to send a “hurry up” message to Red Bull - however, Marko refuted the claim.

“Martin Brundle's assumption that Max was travelling slowly on purpose is not correct, you can't say that,” Marko wrote in his column for Speedweek. 

“But when he saw that Lando was on the move, he didn't take any more risks. The difference to [Sergio] Perez was simply that he was travelling with a different set-up.

“We thought that he would slide less with more downforce. But that made him even more vulnerable at top speed, and the tyre wear was still high.”

Marko admits F1 title in 'danger'

Red Bull's strong advantage over the field at the start of the year has disappeared with McLaren bearing down on its championship lead.

The gap between the two teams in the constructors' championship reads just 30 points with nine rounds remaining - leaving Marko to concede Red Bull's prospect of retaining the title is in peril.

“If it continues like this, the world championship is in danger,” he stated. “But we believe that on the one hand, this was a track whose layout was ideal for McLaren. 

“On the other hand, the temperatures were also low, so everything came together. 

“But it is quite clear that we have to get the car back into balance, our updates have to have an effect, they have to bring something not only in theory, but also on the stopwatch. 

“But we have a strong team and that is why I am confident that something will come of it.”