Red Bull boss Helmut Marko comes under fire after ‘inappropriate’ claim over Lando Norris’ mental health amid title tussle with Max Verstappen – as Briton qualifies fourth for Saturday’s sprint race

McLaren boss Zak Brown said the claim from Red Bull’s Helmut Marko that Lando Norris is not mentally strong enough to dethrone Max Verstappen was ‘inappropriate’ and in ‘poor taste’.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s US Grand Prix, Red Bull motorsport adviser Marko said Norris is ‘not the strongest mentally’.

Norris, 24, has opened up in the past about his mental health struggles, particularly in the formative years of his Formula One career.

‘I read Helmut’s comments, which I felt were disappointing but not surprising,’ said Brown.

‘Lando has been an ambassador for mental health. It is a serious issue that he has brought to the forefront and to make it okay to talk about. To choose to poke at that situation is pretty inappropriate and it sets us back 10 or 20 years.

Marko said that Norris is not mentally strong enough to dethrone Max Verstappen

Zak Brown stated that Marko’s comments were ‘inappropriate’ and ‘in poor taste’

‘It is all fun and games as to how some people go racing and the tactics they use but I thought that one was in pretty poor taste.’

Norris’ win at the last round in Singapore a month ago means he trails Verstappen by 52 points with 180 still to play for over the remaining six rounds.

Norris has taken 26 points out of Verstappen in the last four races, but it was the Dutchman who qualified on pole for Saturday’s sprint race, three places up the grid from his rival. 

Norris has however been handed a possible championship boost after Red Bull were ordered by the FIA to make changes to their car.

Rival teams claimed Red Bull have been gaining an advantage by running a contentious device which allowed them to adjust the setup of the car between qualifying and the race – something which is not prohibited in the sport’s rules.

Norris has managed to take 26 points out of Verstappen during the last four races

Red Bull have admitted the device exists but say they cannot access it when the car has been built.

‘If you breach parc ferme rules that is a massive breach and there should be consequences if that has happened,’ added Brown.

‘We are asking questions as to whether it has been used in an inappropriate manner.

‘It is up to the FIA as the regulator to get on top of it and come up with a solution that is transparent and satisfactory to all the teams because I am not alone with my concerns as to what we have seen and heard.’