13/04/2025 22:44
The manager of Max Verstappen is reported to have given Helmut
Marko "a piece of his mind" after the latest poor performance from
the four-time F1 champion's Red Bull. Verstappen trailed home a
distant sixth at the end of the Bahrain Grand Prix, at least making
up a place from his starting position, albeit finishing over 34
seconds adrift of McLaren race-winner Oscar Piastri. The Dutch
driver has also now fallen eight points adrift of McLaren's Lando
Norris in the drivers' standings after the Briton had to settle for
third at the chequered flag. It was the culmination of a rough
weekend for Verstappen who seven days previously had capped off his
astonishing pole position at the Japanese Grand Prix with the 64th
F1 win of his career. Verstappen bemoaned continual brake and
balance issues with his RB21 around the Bahrain International
Circuit, and during the race was subjected to slow pit stops due to
a wiring loom issue with the pit gantry that also affected
team-mate Yuki Tsunoda. Following the race, Sky Sports F1's
pit-lane reporter spotted Verstappen's manager, Raymond Vermeulen,
raging at Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. Kravitz said: "At the end
of the race, I was waiting around for some team principals, and
Raymond Vermeulen, Max's manager, came into the Red Bull garage and
gave Helmut Marko what can only be described as a piece of his
mind. "He was then remonstrating with Helmut Marko, and Helmut
Marko was just standing taking it. Raymond then stormed off at the
back of the garage, taking his pass off as he went. Clearly, they
are not happy."
