"Sometimes with frozen fingers": Marko reveals tough childhood anecdotes from Verstappen
Created: 12/18/2022, 4:08 p.m
By: Lena Hempler
Helmut Marko is one of the most famous faces in Formula 1. Now he has commented on Max Verstappen - including an anecdote from his childhood.
Fuschl am See - Helmut Marko has been working for the Red Bull racing team in Formula 1 since 2005. Since then he has been known to many drivers, fans and other teams as a tough boss.
After all, he has already replaced Red Bull drivers twice in a current season - first Daniil Kvyat and then Pierre Gasly.
Red Bull's junior program is also considered to be one of the toughest.
Nevertheless, Marko explains that he doesn't mean it badly when he's so hard on the drivers.
dr Helmut Marko |
Born: April 27, 1943 (age 79) in Graz, Austria |
Team: Oracle Red Bull Racing |
Greatest successes: 4-time constructors' world champion with Red Bull (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2022) |
In an interview with
Road and Track
, the Austrian made it very clear why he finds it so important to tell young drivers in particular when their careers are not working out like this: "Unfortunately, many drivers are supported by their parents, who spend a lot of money, sometimes more money than they have.
It is my duty to tell them when to change direction and stop wasting money.”
"Sometimes with frozen fingers": Marko reveals tough childhood anecdotes from Verstappen
However, Helmut Marko rarely has to get upset about Max Verstappen, who had received a very strict upbringing from his father.
“For example, when he was less than 10 years old, they were in Italy and as soon as it started raining, all the other drivers went to the cafeteria for a coffee or a cake.
Max had to stay outside, sometimes with frozen fingers.
That's why he's so good in the rain,” he explains.
Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
© IMAGO/Jakub Porzycki
The drivers have to learn to deal with this pressure.
After all, it's about world championships, according to the Austrian.
But he also makes it clear that racing is the wrong business if drivers have a problem dealing with pressure.
But if they do make it out of the tough junior programs and into Formula 1, they often have a successful career ahead of them.
Unless they become teammates with Max Verstappen.
"Of course you can't accept that you're just not as good as he is": Helmut Marko on Max Verstappen
Verstappen has been driving for Red Bull since 2016. Since then he has seen a number of teammates come and go: Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and now Sergio Pérez.
So far nobody has been able to compete with the Dutchman and mentally the Red Bull chapter wasn't the best for some drivers either.
Pierre Gasly said of his time at Red Bull that some employees turned their backs on him as soon as he made the first mistake.
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For Helmut Marko, however, it is clear that nobody can compete with Verstappen anyway: "Of course you can't accept that you're just not as good as him.
At some point you have to realize that there is someone special and it's just not possible to beat them.
It's my job to make that clear to them.
is that cruel
No, I don't think so."
(lhe)