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verstappen, horner, marko, red bull

Horner reveals WAGER with Marko on Verstappen success

verstappen, horner, marko, red bull — Photo: © LAT Images

Horner reveals WAGER with Marko on Verstappen success

Verstappen stormed to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix pole

Sam Cook
Digital Journalist
Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has revealed that Max Verstappen won him €500, after a bet with Helmut Marko during qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

A supreme Verstappen claimed his 12th pole position of the season at the Yas Marina Circuit, beating Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who himself now has five consecutive front row starts.

After a weekend in which the Dutchman appeared to be slightly off the pace, he and his team managed to string together a great qualifying session to put themselves in position to claim victory once more in the season-ending race.

The aforementioned poor start to the weekend, in which Verstappen was asking for changes to his car even at the very end of the final practice session, seems to have tempted Red Bull advisor Marko into trying to get a bit of extra cash for the winter.

Max Verstappen was not happy with his car during FP3, just hours before qualifying at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Max Verstappen was not happy with his car during FP3, just hours before qualifying at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Max Verstappen took a stunning pole during qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Max Verstappen took a stunning pole during qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Helmut Marko will not be happy to lose a bet to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner
Helmut Marko will not be happy to lose a bet to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner

Marko loses Horner battle

Despite this, Horner appears to have got the better of the 80-year-old, as revealed over Verstappen's team radio after qualifying.

“Yeah well done mate, you’ve just won me 500 euros off Helmut, which is like getting blood out of a stone so fantastic job,” he said.

Verstappen replied “Ha! Helmut lost a bet? What world are we living in?”, before Horner revealed what had been wagered.

“Exactly. The bet was for you to be on the front row mate,” he admitted.

They might still be in Vegas mood, after Horner celebrated his 50th birthday in style during the Las Vegas GP last weekend.

READ MORE: Verstappen takes searing pole as McLaren chance slips away

Related

Red Bull Max Verstappen Ferrari Christian Horner Charles Leclerc Helmut Marko

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