Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s special advisor, clearly told Max Verstappen that from now on no mistakes will be tolerated: at least five wins will be needed to aim for a fifth consecutive world championship in F1.
It will not be easy for Max Verstappen. After seven rounds, the Dutchman is third in the overall standings, behind the two McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. With two wins so far – the latest at Imola – the three-time world champion still has some margin to reach the target set by the team, but the competition is becoming increasingly fierce.
McLaren looming, but Red Bull counts on strategy
Helmut Marko was blunt describing the situation: “Max needs at least five or six wins, but it will be tough against McLaren,” he told Sport.de. The British team has shown consistent competitiveness, adapting to any track and weather condition. A detail that worries the Red Bull garage quite a lot.
Marko’s hope is that the two papaya arrows end up taking points off each other: “I hope Norris wins again and that they alternate as leaders. We have to take advantage of that.”
Another point in Verstappen’s favor is the clear internal team hierarchy: “Max is number 1, everything revolves around him. In McLaren, instead, there isn’t a clear first driver.”
The season is still long – 24 GPs in total – but at Milton Keynes they have already set the course: to make history and match Schumacher, Verstappen will have to raise the pace. And hardly make any mistakes.
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