Dr Helmut Marko says he is still “surprised” that Red Bull’s rivals can’t figure out how to catch up with Red Bull’s current dominance. “Throughout the weekend, Sergio is three to five tenths slower than Max,” Marko said. But in total contrast to Perez’s struggles, Marko said Dutchman Verstappen is now cruising in “top form” en route to his third drivers’ title on the trot. Verstappen, 25, even thinks it’s amusing that Mercedes and Ferrari ‘copying’ the basic style and shape of Red Bull’s sidepods is yet to net any real results for them. “We are surprised that our rivals didn’t close the gap at all.

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