Helmut Marko names the only two drivers capable of defeating Max Verstappen in the same car

Max Verstappen grabbed his eighth consecutive victory in Belgium

Helmut Marko names the only two drivers capable of defeating Max Verstappen in the same car

Helmut Marko (Credits: Planet F1), Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen (Credits: planetsport.com)

Max Verstappen has been ruthless with his RB-19 this season. The Dutchman has been so dominant he was heard on the radio joking about doing a pit stop just for practice in the Belgium GP. While he has dominated Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez for the better part of the season despite being in the same car, Red Bull boss Helmut Marko has named two drivers who he believes could defeat Verstappen.

Marko believes that Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton are the only drivers on the grid with the potential to end Verstappen’s dominance in the same car. He said, as reported by DAZN Espania, “I would say either Alonso or Hamilton, but in the same car it would be very difficult.”

YouTube video

Lewis Hamilton is the only driver who has given Verstappen a proper challenge back in 2021. Fernando Alonso also showed much promise at the start of the season before gradually falling behind Mercedes and McLaren. While it may be a treat to watch these two go against Verstappen in the same car, they’ll have to keep on challenging him with their respective teams.

FS Video

In case you missed it: Ferrari chief Fred Vasseur insists Max Verstappen’s dominance is not ‘destroying’ F1

Helmut Marko explains Max Verstappen’s radio banter with race engineer at Spa

Max Verstappen and GP
Max Verstappen and GP (Credits: PlanetF1)

Max Verstappen’s chit-chat with his race engineer GP has been one of the highlights of the Belgium GP race weekend. With Verstappen being put down by GP after a disagreement over strategy in SQ2 and told to “use his head” in the race on Sunday, Helmut Marko addressed the dynamic between the two.

While he joked about mediating the two, Helmut Marko said that too much was made of their banter and not much was there. He said that both Verstappen and GP have a lot of respect for each other and work very well together.

 “Well, I’ve heard they might spend two days together on an island in the Mediterranean. My phone is on in case it escalates, I’ll be there as a mediator!.. They operate at a very high level and respect each other. GP has Italian roots and Max is also very temperamental,” said Marko.

Addressing Verstappen’s latest win in Belgium, with the Dutchman coming in first starting from P6, Marko was extremely confident in Verstappen’s ability. He went so far as to say, “He would probably have won from the last place on the grid.”

Keep reading: