Marko admits: 'No other driver than Verstappen would've won the title'
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- Jeroen Immink
Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko is certain that only Max Verstappen would've been able to win the 2024 world title in a Red Bull. In a conversation with OE24, the Austrian revealed that the Dutchman won the world title due to being consistently up front over the course of the year, something which other drivers have been unable to do.
Marko: 'Max definitely did not have the best car this year'
Like in 2023, Verstappen dominantly started the 2024 season. He won four of the first five races, but things weren't so simple after that. Lando Norris and McLaren made it difficult for the Dutchman after they won at the Miami Grand Prix. Mercedes and Ferrari also showed several times that they had a strong car, which resulted in seven different winners this season. Both Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari drivers have won multiple Grand Prix in 2024, which demonstrates how much harder it's been for Max Verstappen. Marko, therefore, admitted that if there had been a driver other than Verstappen in the RB20, it would have been hugely difficult.
The Red Bull advisor believes that if Verstappen was driving a McLaren or Ferrari, he would probably have succeeded in the world championship even sooner. "Yes, because in that, he is absolutely right. This year, no driver other than Max would have won the World Championship for us. He definitely did not have the best car," Marko began.
"We just need to build the right car for him, then Max will do it. A car that is not as changeable as the current one that is consistently up front," Marko said.
Of course, the Austrian team are in the midst of a constructors title battle. With three races to go, they sit in third place, 53 points behind leaders McLaren and 29 behind runners-up Ferrari.
This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon
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