Marko after training:

“Front row maximum – Leclerc out of contention”

Helmut Marko (left) with Christian Horner(Bild: AP/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

That didn't sound very confident. "The front row will be the maximum," said Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko after the third practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix, looking ahead to qualifying: "Leclerc is out of contention here."

 

At least the problem from Friday, the "bouncing" car, had been brought under control a little: "The car is bouncing less. But the front row is still the maximum," said Marko in the ORF interview.

The fact that an incident involving Max Verstappen in practice is apparently being investigated by the Stewarts is of no concern to Marko for the time being: "We are now making sure that the car is working well, and our team manager will take care of the rest."

Who else apart from Leclerc is on the cards in qualifying? "McLaren and Mercedes, surprisingly," says Marko. And repeated: "Leclerc is out of reach."