Marko is not going to favour Verstappen: 'We've never had that before'
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- GPblog.com
Helmut Marko answered the question of why Sergio Perez was chosen as a Red Bull Racing driver for 2021. For various reasons, Nico Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon and Yuki Tsunoda were not chosen. Furthermore, Marko states that Max Verstappen will not be favoured next season.
"There was no one in our squad who was available, except for Tsunoda. And we need him for Alpha Tauri", says Marko in conversation with Auto, Motor und Sport. So the Austrian race team was considering a direct step from Tsunoda to Red Bull rather than (re)promoting Gasly.
Albon heard sad news in Milton Keynes
Tsunoda and Gasly thus form the duo at AlphaTauri in 2021. Perez and Verstappen will join the main force. So there was no place left for Hulkenberg and Albon. "I cancelled Hülkenberg on the phone. Albon found out in the factory", says the 77-year-old advisor.
So why was Perez chosen over Hulkenberg? "Perez's form curve in the second half of the year has been steeply upwards. In his win in Bahrain, we saw how fast he is and how well he saves the tyres at the same time. He always puts himself in a good position, has a good feel for the car and the race. And Pérez has been able to prove himself all season. That wasn't the case with Hülkenberg."
Verstappen has to do it on his own
Next year, the experienced Mexican will receive a big boost from his teammate, who will be named Verstappen. The ten-time Grand Prix winner is considered to be Red Bull's team leader, but Marko states that the 23-year old Limburger will not be ahead of the pack. "We've never had a number one or two before"