- McLaren’s Zak Brown has hit back at comments from Helmut Marko
- Brown claimed Marko’s comments about Norris’ mental health were “inappropriate.”
McLaren boss Zak Brown said Red Bull’s Helmut Marko’s claim that Lando Norris is not mentally strong enough to dethrone Max Verstappen was ‘inappropriate’ and in ‘bad taste’.
Ahead of this weekend’s US Grand Prix, Red Bull motorsport advisor Marko said Norris ‘is not the strongest mentally’.
Norris, 24, has spoken out openly about his mental health struggles in the past, especially in the early years of his Formula 1 career.
“I have read Helmut’s comments, which in my opinion were disappointing but not surprising,” Brown said.
“Lando has been an ambassador for mental health. It’s a serious issue that he has brought to the fore and makes it okay to talk about it. It’s a pretty inappropriate thing to put in that situation and it sets us back ten to twenty years.
Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has been criticized for his comments about Lando Norris
Marko said that Norris is not mentally strong enough to dethrone Max Verstappen
Zak Brown stated that Marko’s comments were “inappropriate” and “in poor taste.”
“It’s all fun and games when it comes to the way some people race and the tactics they use, but I felt it was in quite poor taste.”
Norris’ victory in the final round in Singapore a month ago means he is 52 points ahead of Verstappen, with 180 to play in the remaining six rounds.
Norris has taken 26 points over Verstappen in the last four races. And there are another eight points up for grabs in Austin with a sprint race on Saturday.
Norris has also been handed a potential championship boost after Red Bull were ordered by the FIA to make changes to their car.
Rival teams claimed Red Bull had gained an advantage by using a controversial device that allowed them to adjust the car’s set-up between qualifying and the race – something not prohibited by the sport’s rules.
Norris has managed to gain 26 points over Verstappen in the past four races
Red Bull has admitted the device exists, but says they won’t have access to it once the car is built.
“If you break the parc ferme rules it is a huge offense and there should be consequences if that happens,” Brown added.
‘We ask whether it has been used inappropriately.
“It is up to the FIA as regulator to get on top of it and come up with a solution that is transparent and satisfactory for all teams, because I am not alone in my concerns about what we have seen and heard.”
