Helmut Marko explains why Red Bull lost the British GP to ‘masterful’ Lewis Hamilton

At the British GP, Lewis Hamilton emerged victorious over Max Verstappen.

Max Verstappen’s normal “strong points” weren’t in play at Silverstone whereas Lewis Hamilton showed “what a master he is” as he beat the Red Bull driver to the chequered flag.

In summary, Helmut Marko expresses his congratulations to the Mercedes driver for achieving his ninth triumph at the British Grand Prix.

Red Bull motorsport advisor: Max Verstappen’s ‘strong points’ deserted him

945 days after his last win which was during his 2021 title fight against Verstappen, Hamilton stepped onto the top step of the podium at the Silverstone circuit.

Verstappen usually excels in challenging races like this one, characterized by unpredictable conditions. However, on Sunday, he faced difficulties and was unable to perform at his best.

As the race neared its end, Verstappen swiftly changed to hard tyres while race leader Hamilton and Lando Norris chose the softs. At first, it seemed like Verstappen could only hope for a third-place finish.

Nevertheless, as the cold Silverstone track allowed his hard tires to perform optimally, he successfully overtook Norris and gradually narrowed the distance to Hamilton. Unfortunately, he fell just 1.4 seconds behind, leaving Marko to claim that he was only “two laps away from surpassing Hamilton.”

He added to Sky Deutschland: “We lost the race in the first stint, because Max suffered from a lot of graining on the mediums.

Furthermore, despite typically excelling on wet circuits, he unexpectedly faced significant time loss.

“The tires simply failed to perform, but credit must be given to our team for their exceptional pit stops and strategic decisions. Every aspect was executed perfectly, including the wise selection of hard tires for the final phase.”

Verstappen acknowledged that he experienced a complete lack of traction when the rain started to fall.

He explained that he refrained from taking excessive risks due to his discomfort. He decided to simply stay put and prioritize his survival, which is exactly what he did.

After surviving, he was later able to partake in the final period where he believed that the hard Pirellis were optimal for driving at maximum speed.

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Red Bull ‘an only congratulate Lewis Hamilton’ on his British GP win

Verstappen lost out on the win by 1.4 seconds as Hamilton recorded a record-breaking ninth British Grand Prix victory.

However, Marko is of the opinion that Red Bull hindered their own chances of winning, but he commends Hamilton for his victory, acknowledging his exceptional skills on the track and referring to him as a “master”.

The 81-year-old praised Hamilton and acknowledged his impressive performance on a dry track. The elder also admired Hamilton’s ability to effectively manage his tires, showcasing his strength in that aspect as well.

Upon observing, we noticed a subtle formation of graining on his tires. Initially, we maintained a hopeful outlook, but this only demonstrates his mastery in deciphering a race and skillfully pushing the boundaries of tire endurance without compromising their stability.

The exceptional performance of Lewis Hamilton highlights his remarkable experience and speed that he continues to possess.

Verstappen’s P2 meant he extended his lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship to 84 points ahead of Norris with Red Bull 71 points up on Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship.

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Red Bull Helmut Marko Lewis Hamilton Max Verstappen