Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel was once Helmut Marko’s golden boy who could do no harm, as the pair worked together during Red Bull’s dominant years in which the German notched up four world titles for the energy drinks outfit.
But in the aftermath of the Vettel’s radio rant, during the late stages of the Mexican Grand Prix, Marko has condemned his former protege for his expletive laden outburst which the team consultant deemed inappropriate.
During radio communication with his engineer, Vettel said on two occasions that FIA race director Charlie Whiting should “f*ck off”, while berating Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo during their wheel-to-wheel duel for third place in the race.
Marko was not impressed and told Sky Sports, “The situation is unworthy of a four-time world champion. His choice of words certainly wasn’t first class.”
Verstappen crossed the line in third, but FIA race stewards issued a five-second penalty which dropped the Dutch teenager behind Vettel and Ricciardo into fifth.
Marko and the Red Bull team cannot understand why Verstappen was penalised, “We support him. The decision is not understandable. They use different standards and this is not okay.”
Although Vettel did partake in the podium ceremony, his third place was provisional and later he was slapped with a 10-seconds penalty for his defensive driving tactics during the battle with the Red Bull duo.
Vettel thus was demoted to fifth, with Ricciardo promoted to third and Verstappen to fourth. The team held their own trophy presentation, on the podium, in the evening in front of empty stands.
Read the full story at GRAND PRIX 247
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