Verstappen 'putting himself under pressure'

Max Verstappen is under added pressure heading into the Spanish Grand Prix after his collision with Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo last time out in Baku, according to Dr Helmut Marko. Verstappen's sluggish start to the season has put him well off the pace in the title race.

Having combined fifth and sixth-place finishes with two DNFs, Verstappen is 52 points adrift of championship leader Lewis Hamilton after four races.

However, the collision with Ricciardo incensed Red Bull in Baku, with both drivers made to apologise to the team and threatened with the implementation of team orders if there is a repeat.

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Marko is keen to move on as Red Bull prepare for the Spanish Grand Prix - scene of Verstappen's record-breaking maiden F1 win in 2016, but a first-lap collision and DNF last year.

"There is no bad blood. The chapter is closed," Marko told Sport Bild of the fallout from the Baku incident.

"They have to have enough brains that they don't get into a situation like that. We let them race, but they have to show respect, which they didn't do.

"Max wants too much and puts himself under too much pressure.

"He has to learn to be able to give in sometimes - especially now, because of the frequency of the incidents.

"It's hard for him, but he knows. It was also the same with Sebastian in the past. I see the parallels.

"Max knows that he will be automatically blamed for the next incident, whether he can do anything about it or not.

"We also need the points. So next time he has to think even more than he did before."