Helmut Marko: “Max Verstappen is the best driver we’ve ever had — and he’s still getting better”. Helmut Marko hails Max Verstappen as the best driver Red Bull has ever had.

Marko praises Max Verstappen
It has been 11 years since Helmut Marko first noticed a very young Max Verstappen in the Formula 3 European Championship, the Dutchman’s debut season in single-seaters after dominating in karting. That weekend of June 29, 2014, Jos Verstappen’s son stunned Marko with a sensational performance on a wet Norisring circuit, earning himself a future in the Red Bull ecosystem: the first page of a hugely successful story.

After winning four titles with the Milton Keynes team, scoring 65 Grand Prix victories (including one on his Red Bull debut), 43 pole positions and 116 podiums (matching the legendary Michael Schumacher–Ferrari duo), Marko is convinced: Verstappen is the best driver to have ever raced for Red Bull in its 21 seasons in Formula 1.

Marko’s words
“Yes, he is certainly the best we’ve ever had,” he told the BBC. “He is still developing, constantly maturing, and at Imola, his overtake on Oscar Piastri was incredible. It seems like he still has room to improve — he always has something extra to give. Last year, in the wet race in Brazil, he went from 17th to first place: he’s becoming faster and faster, taking fewer risks and staying calmer.”

“He doesn’t have to push on every lap, he’s very relaxed and doesn’t seem to be at the limit. But when it matters, he delivers,” he added. “He’s fast from the very first lap, doesn’t need a warm-up or to get familiar with the circuit. If the track is wet, he goes out and is two or three seconds quicker than the others, who then need three or four laps to catch up. That’s one of his strengths.”