Marko makes Verstappen demand: 'It needs to be solved'

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has demanded that Max Verstappen's power unit issue "needs to be solved" after the Dutchman experienced a repeat of his first practice woe in the afternoon session.

With a handful of minutes remaining in first practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix, Verstappen reported a loss of power. He immediately returned to the Red Bull garage, where an air leak was discovered and seemingly rectified.

However, the three-time champion managed just four laps in the afternoon session, and finished without a time to his name, due to again suffering from a power unit-related issue. 

After second practice, Marko confirmed that Verstappen's engine issue was a repeat of what occurred in the opening session and has called for a fix.

"It is the same problem," Marko informed ORF. "We are now figuring out why it has reappeared, although it has been fixed.

"It's not a serious problem. It just needs to be solved. There is a leak somewhere."

Whilst Verstappen lost track time, it was not too much of a setback overall. 

Second practice was used as an in-competition 2025 Pirelli tyre test, with set programmes designed by F1's tyre supplier and conducted by all the teams and drivers. 

"Normally it should be solved," assessed Marko. "The only upside for Verstappen is that he didn't miss a whole lot of time because of his engine problem, as the second practice was all about the tyres for 2025."