Max Verstappen difficulty pinpointed in Austrian showdown with McLaren

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has pinpointed where Max Verstappen lost time to McLaren, during the opening day of the Austrian Grand Prix. 

The four-time world champion ended second practice in a respectable third on the timesheets; however, he was three-tenths adrift of pace setter Lando Norris. 

Marko has insisted that the Dutchman's deficit is not that significant, although not having a new engine is also hurting the 27-year-old. 

"He is not that far behind," Marko told select media, including RacingNews365. "I don't believe it's three-tenths. 

"As for the engine, we don't have a new one, so that does make a difference. But with fuel added, I think it's about half a tenth."

The middle sector was Verstappen's biggest weakness on Friday, where almost two-tenths of his deficit to McLaren could be found.

Despite it being clear on the timesheets, Marko confirmed where time was being lost by the reigning world champion but also recognised a significant strength McLaren has over Red Bull.

When asked where time is being lost by Verstappen, Marko explained: "More out of Turn 4, which also costs you something towards Turn 5. But we're talking about hundredths of a second. 

"It's so close together. What is clear, though, is that McLaren corrects very easily when they start to slide a little bit. 

"So the car is more controllable than ours. It is not that our car is gone immediately [if we slide], but it is much more difficult."