Helmut Marko asserts Qualifying to be ‘crucial’ at Max Verstappen’s home race in Zandvoort

Helmut Marko fears that Red Bull could be in a tough spot in qualifying during Max Verstappen's home GP.

Helmut Marko asserts Qualifying to be ‘crucial’ at Max Verstappen’s home race in Zandvoort

Helmut Marko, Max Verstappen and Christian Horner (via IMAGO)

Red Bull began the 2024 season as the class of the field. However, this advantage soon wavered off amid fast-developing rivals. This has caused the Austrian giant to be weary of the threat that lies at the Dutch GP. Subsequently, Helmut Marko asserted the importance of qualifying at Max Verstappen‘s home race and how the team is preparing itself for the challenge laying head.

Max Verstappen is Red Bull‘s star driver. The Dutchman currently leads the championship by 78 points and is the favorite for the title. However, their slump has caused the team to lose more races than anticipated, with Mercedes and McLaren snubbing a heap of wins from their camp as an added side effect.

YouTube video

This led to the 81-year-old asserting the importance of qualifying around the Dutch track as the circuit is notoriously famous for discouraging overtaking.

FS Video
One thing is clear: qualifying will be crucial at Zandvoort because overtaking is difficult there. Max [Verstappen] could definitely do a good qualifying because he has been good recently. We were quickest in Austria and also in Spa. In Hungary we were a few hundredths short, so we are complaining at a high level.
Helmut Marko wrote in his column at SpeedWeek

The Austrian explained that the starting grid position usually determines where a driver would finish most of the time around the 4.3-kilometer track. On the other hand, despite such concerns, he had full faith in the 26-year-old to showcase his skills in front of the orange army and reckoned that he would be starting near the top.

RELATED
(Video) “We are probably the best,” Carlos Sainz HILARIOUSLY picks his F1 5-a-side football team
Carlos Sainz

Helmut Marko optimistic about Sergio Perez bouncing back from subpar form

While one Red Bull driver is soaring high in headlines, the other is flying high in headlines for all the wrong reasons. Sergio Perez started the season on the front foot. However, his form slumped in a drastic manner causing people to speculate regarding his job security.

Helmut Marko with Sergio Perez
Helmut Marko with Sergio Perez (IMAGO)

Though the team was adamant about firing him, Horner & Co. decided to give the Mexican another chance, which Marko explained about.

We believe that we can turn it round and make it more stable for him. To be teammate to Max is not the nicest thing in Formula One. Checo[Sergio Perez] has his merits, he's won races.
Helmut Marko said in an interview with ESPN

The 81-year-old reckoned the 34-year-old’s performance could stabilize going forward. Moreover, he explained that being Verstappen’s teammate is quite hard as the Dutchman performs at a really high level.

Despite the team presumably having faith in Perez, rumors stated that his seat was saved due to an intervention by Liberty Media. Thus, if he cannot up-turn his form, then Red Bull might be forced to sack him to save the constructor’s title.

In case you missed it: