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Former F1 team manager believes Helmut Marko should be pushed aside

16:03, 18 Oct 2023

byMatt

The former F1 team boss of Tyrrell and Benetton, Joan Villadelprat, appears to want Red Bull Racing to push aside team advisor Dr Helmut Marko. The Spaniard is not happy with Marko's approach to Red Bull drivers and would rather see the Austrian disappear from the team.

In light of the rumours that surfaced this week about an alleged power struggle at Red Bull Racing, mainly between team boss Christian Horner and Marko, it seems clear which side Villadelprat is taking. Speaking to PlanetF1.com, the former F1 chief comes across as furious. The Spaniard leaves no stone unturned by the Red Bull adviser.

Villadelprat leaves no stone unturned by Marko

"Take Helmut Marko away from the f**king team,” Villadelprat said. "Every time he opens his mouth, the only thing he’s doing is hammering [Perez]. It’s an area that you don’t need to talk about because if things don’t go well and things are tough for a driver, you don’t need somebody telling you that you’re useless. The Spaniard disagrees with the way Marko motivates his drivers, especially Sergio Perez, saying it does not work with everyone the way Marko envisages.

Villadelprat continued: "I have worked with Marko, I’ve had five cars from him in junior categories, and I had Jaime Alguersuari and Brendon Hartley. I know the pressure that he puts on the young kids, he’s useless. He thinks that shouting and doing that kind of thing is going to get a reaction, but it’s not – that’s how you destroy people instead of pushing people.”

The Spaniard believes Marko's approach contributes greatly to Perez's disappointing performance: "Yes, he’s not helping at all. He’s not helping at all. He’s not helping the team at all, ever." When given the chance to nuance his statements, and it is stated that Perez's disappointing performance could possibly also be due to the extraordinary class of teammate Max Verstappen, Villadelprat said: "I think part of it, yes, it doesn’t help."

Verstappen destroys teammates just as Schumacher did

Villadelprat immediately draws comparisons with seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher, saying the German destroyed all his teammates. Marko's critic cites Johnny Herbert, Martin Brundle, Riccardo Patrese and Nelson Piquet as examples. Villadelprat: "Anyone you put next to Fernando Alonso is destroyed. Max destroys anyone next to him. I don’t know, I think part of it is psychological."

Villadelprat recognises that Perez is underperforming but cannot point to an alternative. He therefore concludes that Red Bull is more or less stuck with Checo for the time being. He says: "If I’m Christian Horner, I don’t think there’s anybody else around that can do better than Checo. Maybe Fernando, I think Marko said the same thing. Probably, Max would be happy to do that. But I don’t think there’s any, right now, that can be better than Checo. With a lot of help and a lot of love to bring him security, he’s there.”

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4 Comments

Mech Engineer 19 October 2023 at 15:24+ 55267

Perez at present is a firmly mid field driver, probably around the level of Gasly, Ocon or Hulk,
So, there are about half the field of drivers who will do a better job as Max's team mate, not only Alonso.

El Super Guapo 19 October 2023 at 16:47+ 3018

With due respect, I tend to disagree with this one. I put him above Gasly/Ocon since he’s already beaten out these drivers. Ocon as a teammate and has performed far batter than Gasley as Max’s teammate. And Hulk couldn’t handle driving with Ric who again, disappeared driving next to Lando. I put Checo below Alonzo/LEC/Seinz/Lando/Norris/GR. Below the top tier drivers but above the midfield. IMHO.

El Super Guapo 18 October 2023 at 17:07+ 3018

Wondering which publicist are being hired to push this narrative? Articles like this one have an AGENDA, usually from someone who will benefit from this.

Dang 18 October 2023 at 21:24+ 3061

the tail is violently shaking the dog ...