Marko points out crucial advantage for Red Bull: 'We have the Max factor'

Marko looks back on a difficult year for Red Bull

"It was a very difficult year for us, especially with our technical problems. At one point, we didn't know where we had taken a wrong turn, and sometimes, we only had the fourth fastest car. In this situation, Max saved us by working around the car's weaknesses," Marko told Kleine Zeitung.

Marko noted, "The turning point was definitely his incredible performance in the rain in Brazil," He knows how much of an impact that had on Verstappen winning his fourth world title. Marko also knows that the Red Bull team also had their part to play in that. "Despite the technical problems, we never allowed ourselves to make a mistake in terms of strategy, unlike McLaren in some situations." 

Marko: 'We have the Max factor'

After a tough season, Verstappen noted that he does not think Red Bull will take back their top spot next year. Marko shared that sentiment as McLaren and Ferrari had very strong seasons. However, Red Bull has something neither of those teams possesses. And that is Max Verstappen behind the steering wheel. 

Marko explains, "If you look at the last six months, Ferrari and McLaren were clearly the strongest teams. So we need to find a car that has a wide operating window and doesn't react so erratically to the smallest changes. If we manage that halfway through, we will automatically be competing for the world championship again, thanks to the Max factor."

This article was written in collaboration with Nicole Mulder. 

Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels!

X | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube