Red Bull’s Max Verstappen continues to impress in Formula 1, with Helmut Marko praising his racecraft, control and wet-weather dominance.
Helmut Marko believes Max Verstappen is still developing. According to Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, the four-time world champion continues to improve, particularly in his ability to read races and find the limits of his driving.
“He is without a doubt the best driver we have ever had,” said Marko ahead of media day in Canada (to follow this evening on Nextgen-Auto.com).
“He keeps developing, and in Imola, his overtake in Turn 3 was incredible. This is not the end of his progress. He always brings something extra.”
“Last year, during the race in Brazil in the wet, he went from 17th to first place – he is getting faster and faster while taking fewer risks and staying calmer. He does not need to push every lap, he is really relaxed, but he is not pushing, or he does not seem to be at the limit. But when it matters, he delivers.”
The 1971 Le Mans 24 Hours winner praises Verstappen’s ability to immediately find the pace in difficult conditions: “He is still developing, but even at the beginning, he does not need warm-up or prior knowledge.”
“If the weather is wet, he pulls away by two or three seconds from the others, and it takes them three or four laps to match Max’s time. That is one of his great strengths. After losing the race in Singapore [in 2023], we went to Suzuka, and on his first lap, I do not remember how far ahead he was, but it was huge.”
Marko is also a fan of young driver Arvid Lindblad, who is competing in F2: “There is Lindblad, who is 17 years old. His father is Swedish, his mother is Indian. When we signed him, he was the one making all the decisions, asking the right questions. At the time, I think he was around 12 years old. So there is a lot of talent in the pipeline.”
The Briton, supported by Red Bull and granted his Super Licence at 17 thanks to a special exemption from the FIA, is one of the drivers who impresses Marko the most: “He is impressive, but the results have yet to come.”
“He has been unlucky twice while heading for pole position when there was an issue with the car. Last time, he missed it by eight-tenths of a second, otherwise he would have got it. But it is his mental strength, his dedication, and his very professional approach that stand out.”
