Marko: 'Hamilton cost Perez second place'
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Helmut Marko says missing out on second place in the drivers' championship is partly down to Lewis Hamilton. He does not think it has anything to do with Red Bull Racing's strategic choices.
Marko does not believe the two-stopper was detrimental to the Mexican. According to the Red Bull adviser, everything went according to plan, but Perez had to drive too aggressively in battle with Hamilton. "I think Checo pushed a little too hard and that's why we had to bring him in earlier than planned," Marko told German Sky Sports.
Red Bull was surprised by Ferrari
Still, the second place should have been in it according to Marko. "It was only the overtaking manoeuvre on Hamilton where Perez lost time. Otherwise, it should have been enough," the Austrian explained. At the finish, the gap to Charles Leclerc was only just over a second.
At the same time, Marko admits that his team was somewhat surprised by Ferrari's strategic choices. "We were surprised that Ferrari could run the one-stop with Leclerc. That was actually not in our planning," he acknowledges. Nevertheless, he feels his team can be more than satisfied with Sunday's result and the successful season in general.