Marko winks: 'More exciting for you if Verstappen doesn't start at the front'.

Christian Horner has already expressed his satisfaction with the first day of the weekend in Monza, which was finished second by Max Verstappen. Helmut Marko cannot be dissatisfied with the result either, hinting at the engine positions of the various teams.

"If you look at what the top speed looks like, we didn't drive the same engine modes", Marko states according to Motorsport-Magazin.com. Moreover, the Red Bull Racing advisor has a good feeling about the race pace of Verstappen and Sergio Perez. "Our long run was very convincing, both the softs and the mediums are working well. We are satisfied."

Marko is therefore convinced that Verstappen will be competitive in the race. "Max is definitely competing at the front," says the Austrian firmly. He adds that Red Bull put more emphasis on the long runs, and that Verstappen is very competitive there too.

About Sunday's grid penalty, the advisor has little worries. "You certainly don't want to change in Suzuka or Austin," he explains. Marko expects overtaking to be relatively easy at Monza, adding with a wink, "For you journalists it's more exciting if we don't start at the very front."