Helmut Marko claims Max Verstappen can put a Haas or AlphaTauri on pole position

Verstappen has finished either first or second in 46 out of the last 56 Grands Prix.

Helmut Marko claims Max Verstappen can put a Haas or AlphaTauri on pole position

Max Verstappen, Helmut Marko and Christian Horner (Credits: Autobild)

Max Verstappen has been a force to reckon with in the 2023 season. He holds a massive lead of 125 points from his second-place teammate Sergio Perez in the WDC standings. Many have given the credit of his success to the dominant RB-19, with Lewis Hamilton even claiming that Verstappen would not be having such an easy time if he was in one of the Red Bulls. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko recently gave his opinion on the ‘it’s the car, not the driver’ debate.

Helmut Marko said that Verstappen has grown immensely in the last three years and would dominate with any car he is provided. He said that Verstappen has now matched Hamilton’s level of general race awareness, if not exceeded.

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“Max would be in a class of its own in every car…He has gained tremendous sovereignty… For me, the master of reading races was always Hamilton, how he divided his tires. And Max is now on par with that. If not even better, because he is better at basic speed,” Marko told motorsport-total.com.

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As Verstappen qualified for pole in Spa by eight-tenths in drying conditions, Marko also claimed that he would qualify for pole positions even in a Haas or AlphaTauri. He said, “If such conditions [Spa] exist, he puts an AlphaTauri or Haas, which is a qualifying car, on pole.”

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Helmut Marko says Max Verstappen has many targets to achieve other than F1

Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen (Credits: F1)

Verstappen has a long contract with Red Bull, ending in 2028. While the two-time world champion is only 25 years old, he will be 31 by his contract ends. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko talked about Verstappen’s time with Red Bull, as the Dutchman has expressed his desire not to continue in F1 for too long on many occasions. Marko said that it is difficult to predict how long Verstappen will have the motivation to stay in F1.

Verstappen has previously expressed his desire to race in 24 hours of Le Mans. In an interview with Sky Sports a few months back, he also revealed that he would probably like a rest from the hectic schedule of F1 in the later stages of his career. “It’s hard to say how long he would have the motivation to fight in a RedBull. Max is different. One day he will come and say: ‘Thank you, that’s it,'” said Marko.

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