Marko Claims Verstappen Could Win in Any Car After Canadian GP Triumph
In the aftermath of the thrilling Canadian Grand Prix, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has made a bold claim that Max Verstappen would have emerged victorious even if he were driving a McLaren or Mercedes car. Verstappen’s 60th career win was a testament to his exceptional skills, with the Dutch driver showcasing his prowess in mixed conditions and outmaneuvering three different leaders.
However, Lando Norris believes that McLaren should have taken the top spot if not for the indecision on the pit wall, which led to him pitting a lap later than his rivals under the Safety Car. Meanwhile, George Russell’s Mercedes W15 showed promise from pole position, but errors saw him slip to third place.
“Yes,” Marko confidently stated when questioned about Verstappen’s chances with a different car, attributing his conviction to Verstappen’s unique ability to read the race and capitalize on opportunities. “Only Max has the race overview and the confidence to step on the gas when necessary,” Marko told OE24. “Apart from that, our team adopted absolutely the right strategy.”
Ferrari’s SF-24 was touted as the favorite heading into the Canadian GP weekend, but the Italian marque struggled to find speed and ultimately suffered a double retirement. Verstappen’s win extended Red Bull’s championship advantage to 49 points, and while the team has exposed vulnerabilities in recent races, Marko acknowledged that inconsistent form from its rivals is aiding their title defense.
“It [the championship] won’t be a clear-cut story because our car and our simulator have certain weaknesses,” Marko commented. “But we are working hard to rectify this. We’ve always realised that we won’t win every race. It’s good for us that the others can’t get any consistency. If everything goes normally for us, Max will be ahead in the race.”
Despite Red Bull’s triumph, Sergio Perez’s weekend was marred by a successive Q1 elimination and a self-imposed retirement due to damage. The Mexican driver has been handed a three-place grid drop for Spain after the stewards deemed that circulating with a disintegrating rear wing posed safety risks. Marko defended the team’s decision, stating that they didn’t realize the extent of the damage and wanted Perez to continue racing.
As the Formula 1 calendar moves on to Spain, fans can expect more thrilling battles between the top teams, with Verstappen and Red Bull aiming to maintain their momentum.
🔗 Source