Helmut Marko slams McLaren for ‘twisting’ Lando Norris claim to create ‘unrest’ at Red Bull

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Max Verstappen and Lando Norris are fighting over the drivers’ title but Red Bull and McLaren are also in a war with words that Helmut Marko thinks Zak Brown ‘twisted’.

A controversial end to the United States Grand Prix last time out saw Verstappen extend his championship lead over Norris to 57 points. The McLaren racer must now outscore his rival from Red Bull by a massive 11.4 points per round during the final five rounds of the season.

More than only a mountain stands in front of the Briton in his efforts to dethrone the three-time defending champion. Norris receiving a controversial penalty for overtaking Verstappen off the track in the US Grand Prix meant the Dutchman took a rather helpful six-point swing.

Helmut Marko accuses Zak Brown of ‘twisting’ his criticism of Lando Norris

Red Bull also reduced their deficit to McLaren in the constructors’ championship from 41 to 40 points at the Circuit of the Americas. But Marko prompted a war with words with Brown ahead of the US Grand Prix after appearing to call into some question Norris’ mental health.

McLaren CEO Brown felt Red Bull motorsport advisor Marko shared an ‘inappropriate’ claim before the race in Austin, Texas after indicating Verstappen is mentally stronger than Norris. The Briton had previously admitted he was ‘depressed a lot of the time’ as a rookie in 2019.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

But Marko has now bitten back at Brown by suggesting the McLaren CEO is the one trying to create ‘unrest’ at Red Bull. The Austrian is adamant that he did not call into question Norris’ mental strength. Instead, Marko claims he highlighted that Verstappen is mentally stronger.

Marko told OE24: “There was a fuss again just because I said that Norris is a bad starter. But I never talked about mental health, only that Max is mentally stronger.

“You can’t twist the wording – that’s a deliberate attempt to cause unrest. But we know the games played by Zak Brown, he deliberately stirs up trouble wherever he can.”

What did Helmut Marko say about Lando Norris’ mental strength?

While Marko has now tried to play down the Red Bull motorsport advisor’s prior suggestion about Norris’ mental strength, he did say the McLaren ace is ‘not the strongest in the head’. And while it was in comparison to Verstappen, Marko was always likely to spark a response.

“[Verstappen] is the best mentally and as a driver,” Marko told OE24 ahead of the US Grand Prix. “Norris has a weak start and he is also not the strongest in the head.

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

“The pressure increases with each race because, in reality, he has to win every time to make up the deficit. That makes it easier for Max to defend himself.”

Marko’s claim that Norris is ‘not the strongest in the head’ was easily open to interpretation for McLaren to feel the Red Bull chief was questioning their driver’s mental strength. Norris is also a person who is very open about the necessity to be open and discuss mental health.

Often throughout his Formula 1 career, Norris has used his platform to promote discussing mental health. The Briton has admitted his struggles with it that even left him doubting his skills behind the wheel. So, it was possible to feel Marko questioned Norris’ mental health.