F1 | Helmut Marko explains what Sebastian Vettel had that Max Verstappen lacks. Helmut Marko compares Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

With Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, Helmut Marko brought two exceptional but very different talents into Formula 1. The Austrian explains why.

For more than two decades, Helmut Marko has been responsible for the development of young talents at Red Bull. The 82-year-old Austrian, who for many years also ran his own team in the Formula 3000 championship, has always had a sharp eye for identifying promising young drivers.

Even though not all drivers from the Red Bull Junior Team have reached the very top of motorsport, the podium, or even a world title, with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen Helmut Marko has introduced two of the most extraordinary talents of recent years to Formula 1.

Although both Red Bull drivers “dominated” the Circus for years, their approach was clearly different. “Vettel approached everything in a more analytical way, he spent hours and hours with the engineers to get the maximum out of the car,” Helmut Marko revealed to Münchner Merkur/tz.

“At the beginning Max relied more on his natural instinct, but today he has turned into a driver who knows exactly what he wants and can also lead a team,” added the Austrian, who has an excellent relationship with his protégé. Max Verstappen is “special. Super fast, super talented and extremely focused.”

The character of Max Verstappen “is extremely rare.” Helmut Marko brought the Dutchman into Formula 1 when he was just 17 years old. The Austrian also played a decisive role in Sebastian Vettel’s career: he was instrumental in securing the signing of the driver from Heppenheim and helped him win a total of four world titles with Red Bull.

Verstappen has so far celebrated four world titles with Red Bull as well, in addition to a total of 71 Grand Prix victories. Sebastian Vettel, on the other hand, achieved 53 wins during his career. As a result, both former Red Bull junior talents currently rank among the four most successful drivers in the history of Formula 1, also thanks to the work of Helmut Marko.

The Austrian has supported many talents from their very early days, sometimes already from karting. However, his relationship with Verstappen holds a special place for him. “With no other driver have I ever had such a close bond,” says Helmut Marko. “He has strong values that I would only attribute to people with good character. This combination is extremely rare.”