Verstappen, Marko attacks: “Incorrect campaign against Max. But he’s ready for the title”

The temperature is rising in Abu Dhabi, in view of the decisive clash on the track between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who will be playing the World Championship this weekend. Yesterday the Dutchman at the press conference complained about the penalties remitted in Arabia, claiming that other pilots carried out the same maneuvers in the race and were not sanctioned. Helmut Marko, the super consultant of Red Bull, who defended his driver and accused a certain press of artfully creating a negative climate around the Dutchman, added to the dose this morning.

Stories are sought

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“I think it is really unfair to carry out such a campaign against a 24-year-old boy – Marko told Sky Sport F1 – before the race even starts, you are looking for stories against him. This is F1, you know what racing is like, we think it will be a fair race, I just hope there are no strange decisions and all the evaluations are fair and not just against him “.

It’s ready

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As for the atmosphere, Marko explained that Verstappen is calm: “We see him relatively relaxed – he said – he obviously has this pressure on him, they pass him off as aggressive and that’s not true. We told him not to read the media and social media, and so he focuses on his work. Should it be isolated from external voices? As far as we can we do it, but there is a campaign going on against him. Mercedes has had the best car in the last few races and we haven’t been able to get the most out of our car. But we can do it. And Max is ready for the title ”.

The times of free practice 2

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These times of the second free practice session of the GP in Abu Dhabi:

1. Hamilton (Mercedes) 1’23”691
2. Ocon (Alpine) 1’24”034
3. Bottas (Mercedes) 1’24 ”083
4. Verstappen (Red Bull) 1’24”332
5. Perez (Red Bull) 1’24 ”400
6. Alonso (Alpine) 1’24 ”495
7. Tsoda (AlphaTauri) 1’24 ”532
8. Leclerc (Ferrari) 1’24 ”557
9. Sainz (Ferrari) 1’24 ”844
10. Gasly (AlphaTauri) 1’24”940
11. Ricciardo (McLaren) 1’24 ”959
12. Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) 1’25 ”108
13. Norris (McLaren) 1’25”153
14. Vettel (Aston Martin) 1’25”195
15. Stroll (Aston Martin) 1’25”385
16. Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) 1’25 ”440
17. Russell (Williams) 1’25”549
18. Latifi (Williams) 1’25”687
19. Schumacher (Haas) 1’25 ”784
20. Mazepin (Haas) 1’26 ”336

The times of FP1

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The times of free 1 of the GP in Abu Dhabi:

1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 1’25”009
2. Bottas (Mercedes) 1’25 ”205
3. Hamilton (Mercedes) 1’25”355
4. Perez (Red Bull) 1’25 ”363
5. Tsoda (AlphaTauri) 1’25 ”378
6. Alonso (Alpine) 1’25 ”625
7. Gasly (AlphaTauri) 1’25”822
8. Leclerc (Ferrari) 1’25 ”846
9. Sainz (Ferrari) 1’25 ”886
10. Vettel (Aston Martin) 1’26”007
11. Ocon (Alpine) 1’26”025
12. Norris (McLaren) 1’26”123
13. Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) 1’26 ”189
14. Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) 1’26 ”409
15. Stroll (Aston Martin) 1’26”608
16. Ricciardo (McLaren) 1’26 ”676
17. Aitken (Williams) 1’27”481
18. Latifi (Williams) 1’27”487
19. Schumacher (Haas) 1’27 ”698
20. Mazepin (Haas) 1’28 ”305