Dr Helmut Marko says he convinced Max Verstappen to bring his “relaxation program” from Europe to the Middle East ahead of the most important weekend of his career. Indeed, Verstappen’s girlfriend Kelly – the daughter of triple world champion Nelson Piquet – had intended to celebrate her 33rd birthday in Europe last week. “In Silverstone he (Hamilton) got a ten-second penalty for driving into me on purpose but won the race, but suddenly they’re saying that you can get a points deduction as a driver?” “Let’s just say that I haven’t been happy with decisions that are being made.”. “I don’t want to take him out, I want to beat him,” Verstappen said.

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