Max Verstappen’s Pole Position Apology Linked to Helmut Marko’s $55 Gain From Gianpiero Lambiase

Max Verstappen’s Pole Position Apology Linked to Helmut Marko’s $55 Gain From Gianpiero Lambiase

Max Verstappen picked up right where he left off last season, after grabbing the pole position ahead of the season opener in Bahrain. He finished two-tenths ahead of second-placed Charles Leclerc and apologized to race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase over the team radio for some reason. It confused fans, but Helmut Marko’s latest revelation gives some idea.

In an interview with Sky Germany after the race, Marko spoke about a bet he made with Lambiase. The Red Bull advisor put his money on Verstappen finishing on pole whereas Lambiase went against it. Fortunately for Marko, he won but Verstappen managed to get 50% of the profits the 80-year-old made.

Marko revealed that Verstappen would make a little more than $27 (€25), which means that the total money Marko got from Lambiase was roughly $55 (€50). This is likely what caused Verstappen to erupt into laughter after the session, and jokingly apologize to Lambiase.

Internally, however, no one at Red Bull will be upset. There was a lot of chatter about whether Red Bull could continue dominating the grid this year too. While it is too early to determine that, the early signs are good.

Max Verstappen to continue dominating?

Lambiase, Verstappen, and Marko will be delighted with the Dutchman’s performance in Bahrain. He starts on the pole, ahead of Charles Leclerc, and is the favorite to win the Grand Prix. But is this pole position an ominous sign for the rest of the grid?

The entire F1 grid looked to be extremely close in qualifying, and they were except for Verstappen. The defending champion was two-tenths ahead of Leclerc, whereas everyone finishing P2 or below was within a few hundredths of each other.

Red Bull’s race pace in Sakhir on Saturday will give a much better idea as to where they stand. Because at the end of the day, race day is where the points lie.

The Austrian team was miles ahead in terms of race pace in 2023, and if they are in 2024 too, the rest of the grid could be in for a torrid time. While Verstappen starts the Bahrain GP from pole, his teammate Sergio Perez will start from P5.

Post Edited By: Aishwary Gaonkar
Gianpiero Lambiase Helmut Marko Max Verstappen Red Bull

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Somin Bhattacharjee

Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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