Helmut Marko shares what made him ‘unhappy’ about Max Verstappen’s qualifying in Singapore

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Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen will start the Singapore Grand Prix from the front row of the grid alongside his closest championship rival Lando Norris.

Lando Norris did a fantastic job throughout qualifying in his McLaren and will know how important it is for him to get a good start on Sunday.

Max Verstappen has gotten the better of him on several occasions this season when they’ve started alongside each other and with overtaking so difficult at the Singapore Grand Prix, leading into the first corner is very important.

Red Bull wouldn’t have expected to have a car on the front row of the grid after their recent struggles and how they performed in Singapore last year.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

It was the only race they failed to win in 2023 and Verstappen was a long way off the pace last weekend in Baku.

Sergio Perez finally looked comfortable in Azerbaijan before his unfortunate collision with Carlos Sainz denied him points, but the Mexican couldn’t reach Q3 during Saturday’s qualifying.

Red Bull chief advisor Helmut Marko was speaking to Sky DE after qualifying and gave his perspective on what happened.

He admitted to being surprised by just how well Verstappen fared although he was no doubt helped by both Ferrari drivers failing to set a lap in Q3.

However, Marko rued how ‘unlucky’ Verstappen was that his first lap time was deleted due to a red flag caused by Carlos Sainz’s crash.

It impacted how he approached his final lap and potentially denied him another pole position.

Helmut Marko suggests Max Verstappen was ‘unlucky’ during Singapore Grand Prix qualifying

Marko was asked about how qualifying went and said: “I am very happy, especially after the disaster we experienced in practice.

“We are a bit unhappy because of the fact that Max’s time was taken away, despite the fact that he lifted.

“He lost a tenth and a half and I think it would have been enough for pole position.

“Max could have taken more risks in the second run, but again, we wouldn’t have dreamt of this after Friday.”

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

Marko then praised Red Bull for the turnaround from practice and added. “The team has taken a clear step forward.

“They gave Max a car he could attack with. But this lap belongs to Max; you see how it fared for Sergio Perez.”

Max Verstappen in feud with the FIA over swearing penalty

While Verstappen is an expert at separating what is going on off the track with his racing, he’s currently at the centre of a feud with the FIA over the use of swear words.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem wants drivers to swear less and in a press conference almost immediately after those comments, Verstappen cursed when answering a question.

Verstappen has been told he now has to undertake the FIA’s form of community service as a result, although Lewis Hamilton told Verstappen he wouldn’t undertake it in his position.

Privately, every driver is upset that Verstappen has been penalised in this way, and the Dutchman barely gave an answer in his official press conference after qualifying, instead holding an impromptu session with journalists on his way to the media pen.

It leaves the FIA in an awkward position with drivers likely to swear over the team radio as they always do during Sunday’s race.

It’s never broadcast, with any swear words bleeped out, but it has once again caused a rift to form between the drivers and the sport’s governing body.