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Publication date: September 6, 2020
Helmut Marko says he is confused by Lewis Hamilton’s criticism of Alex Albon when “he called us several times last year” to say that the Thai driver should be promoted.
With Mercedes winning 1-2 at the Belgian Grand Prix and once again with Max Verstappen on the podium, Hamilton intervened in the Red Bull driver’s situation.
According to the Brit, Albon is disappointing the team because “he is not there”, leaving Verstappen to lead the team.
“The thing to do with the Red Bulls is that they have a very good car,” the six-time world champion told Sky F1.
“People minimize it, but they have a very strong car and Max is doing a great job with it.
“Unfortunately both drivers are not there like Valtteri and I [Bottas] there are.
“That makes things difficult for them. I experienced it myself many years ago when I was at McLaren and I was the driver always up front.
“I didn’t have the teammate backing it up, so you don’t get the constructors points either, but you can’t play strategy on the cars you’re racing again either.
So Red Bull has that and Max is there alone.
“Of course I really want to fight more, but that’s not up to me and I have to continue what I’m doing.”
Red Bull advisor Marko says he is surprised Hamilton tried Albon given he called Red Bull not once, but “several times” last season, telling them to promote Albon to the senior team.
“I don’t quite understand this,” the Austrian told Sky Germany at Monza. “Hamilton called us several times last year to tell us to put Albon in the car.
“These statements are not entirely understandable to me.”
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Hamilton’s criticism of Albon could also be described as unfair given that the Thai-British driver’s two best chances to score a podium, the 2019 Brazilian GP and the 2020 Austrian GP, were taken from him by the British driver crashing into him at the end of the races.
Marko once again defended his driver, adamant that Albon is on top after qualifying three-tenths behind his teammate at the Monza circuit on Saturday.
“Their performance has improved,” he continued. “Three tenths on Max Verstappen, that’s something to achieve.
As for Albon, he has already made it clear that he will not take Hamilton’s criticism seriously.
“I’m not here to make excuses, obviously, but at least Spa wasn’t a bad weekend,” he told Sky F1 ahead of the Italian GP weekend.
“I want more, I am the hardest person on myself. I know that hard work happens between me and the team, but it’s just a work in progress.
“I won’t listen to what Lewis has to say, but I know it’s the hard work at the factory and here that will make the difference.”
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