Verstappen ran second through the opening stint of the race in Bahrain, dropping almost four seconds behind race leader Charles Leclerc before pitting at the end of lap 14.
Leclerc responded by pitting one lap later, but Verstappen had managed to close the gap, leading to a tight wheel-to-wheel battle between the two drivers for the next few laps.
Verstappen pitted earliest again at the second round of stops, but could not bridge the gap to Leclerc this time, prompting an angry outburst over the radio from the world champion.
“That is two times I have taken it easy on the outlap and not been in front,” Verstappen said. “I am never, ever doing that again.”
Marko told Motorsport.com in the Bahrain paddock after the race that Red Bull underestimated the power of the undercut, therefore telling Verstappen to manage his pace.
“Max was actually told to hold back during his outlaps,” Marko said.
“If he had driven at a normal pace, he would have been in front of Leclerc….
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