"That's just Max," says Helmut Marko, of the final lap that allowed Max Verstappen to maintain the lead of the world championship.

Though he currently held the fastest lap, which he had posted on Lap 38, and despite Max Verstappen's reported issues with his car, Sergio Perez questioned his team's decision in terms of the pace he was to maintain.

As the race came to its conclusion both drivers were aware that whoever had the fastest lap would lead the championship ahead of the trip to Melbourne.

A moot point perhaps, but worth its weight in gold in terms of driver mind games.

Come the final lap, both drivers went for it, however, while the Mexican gave up after a couple of corners, his teammate kept his pedal to the metal.

"Typical Max," Helmut Marko told ORF, "on the last lap, the fastest race lap. That was uncontrollable. That's just Max.

"Both were constantly asking who had the fastest lap," he continued, "and Max waited until the last lap so Perez couldn't counter.

"It means the lead in the world championship for him. We are very satisfied with the race."

"We came to the conclusion that, you know what, it's the last lap, if it's going to go, it's going to go. Though I think he had already come to that conclusion himself," said Christian Horner of Verstappen.

"So both drivers had the info," he continued. "Checo had the fastest lap at that point, and he asked what it was, and it was obvious why he was asking. He knew that Max was going to have a crack at it.

"But Checo gave up after the first couple of turns, he was already a tenth and a half down, and you saw him back out of it.

"The only issue about managing pace was when the issue with the driveshaft became prevalent," admitted Horner. "At that point, you're thinking, 'okay, let's turn down both cars'. But as soon as it became clear that we couldn't see anything in the data, we released the cars again."

Asked about Verstappen's drive from 15th to second, Marko said: "We already assumed it would be podium. But it was still a bit of a squeeze because he was suffering from vibrations again."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 27/03/2023 1:35

"The intra team competition is good and as it should be for no other reason than it tends to spice up the racing. Drivers should be racing as individuals otherwise why have a WDC in the first place? The F1 championship structure is it's own worst enemy when it come to results driven conclusions. In all honesty the logic behind two opposite championship challenges invaribly fall into intra team conflict. The WCC calls for combined team domination of results but that then conflicts with individual desires for the WDC that in turn encourage singular strategies and the possibility of subsequent inequalities. The WEC does it far better with their structure that encourages ultimate team players and if then if one team win the points race at year end then all the drivers are awarded a WC trophy. Will this ever happen...I very much doubt it."

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2. Posted by Bowman, 25/03/2023 19:34

"I figure out Alonso and Aston Martin in third position each race, patiently awaiting for the possibility of Max and Checo scrapping their Red Bulls out together in a fraternal fight, promoting them to the top spot of the podium."

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3. Posted by RP, 22/03/2023 17:13

"Verstappen is a great driver. But there are also at least 7 other drivers who could produce the same results in that car. The team consists of 700-800 engineers including Adrian Newey who are responsible for giving Verstappen and Perez those cars. Perez has assited him in the past and, of course, last year's refusal to help Perez was in the bag because of a past misdeed was only the beginning. This was a new year and his car had already had a mechanical failure along with his announcement during the race that something was vibrating, he still would not respect what the team asked for. He is being paid up to $42,000,000 a year with more coming for driving a car. He made a tremendous advance in the race to get to second and then the team asked Perez to slow and Max to continue at a slightly faster pace when he clearly thought there was a problem with the car. There is a lot at stake for the team (all 700-800) of them. He has some smooth sailing ahead again this season thanks to that team. And this is his reaction. A 24 year old spoiled brat and his father showed his colors (no surprise) as the race ended.
I tire of people like Marko but have really admired the team and what they have accomplished with the car. The antics of the immature don't impress.
"

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4. Posted by Burton, 22/03/2023 10:40

"When Max goes for it (against team instructions - and with an apparently stricken car at that) he gets lauded...when Perez goes for an overtake and his opponent puts him in the gravel (Austria) Marko gives him a public dressing down."

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5. Posted by didaho, 22/03/2023 5:39

"Who would have been to blame? Honda."

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6. Posted by Kkiirmki, 21/03/2023 19:39

"It would have been funny if his car had decided to give up while trying to set the fastest lap. Wonder who would have been to blame if he had come away with no points?"

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Marko lauds "uncontrollable" Verstappen

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