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Marko still at Red Bull thanks to Max: 'The Verstappens are special'
- Ludo van Denderen
Helmut Marko was there when Max Verstappen captured his fourth consecutive world title in Las Vegas. Earlier this season, in Saudi Jeddah, this seemed impossible. Indeed, that was when the internal power struggle, with Marko and team boss Christian Horner diametrically opposed, was at its peak. Marko was close to being sidelined there.
It was ultimately Max Verstappen who made it clear: Helmut out, me out. Of course, Red Bull did not want to risk the golden goose walking out the door and racing for its rival. And so Marko stayed in place. Reflecting on that moment in the Telegraph, Marko states, "I have known the Verstappens for quite a long time now. And the Verstappens are special, that's obvious."
'Special' the Austrian means in a positive way. "They are loyal. You can build on them. For me, of course, it was very nice, those words from Max. He is one of the greatest sportsmen in the world, makes a lot of money, but above all, he sticks to his principles. That hasn't changed since he was 14 years old."
Marko cannot answer this question
Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen. They are two hands in one. Without Marko, Verstappen would not have debuted in Formula 1 at the age of 16. And without Verstappen, would Marko still be working at Red Bull Racing today? On the answer, Marko has to think for a while, before saying, "I can't answer this question, don't write anything about that."
The Austrian does not say it himself then, but it would have been 'no'. Thanks in part to Verstappen, Marko has regained more power within the organisation. "I am a director two or three times, I don't know exactly," he first states. To then say: "I already was, but in my current contract it's all confirmed again."
This article was written in collaboration with Ben Stevens.
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