Max Verstappen has revealed details about his relationship with Helmut Marko, the Chief Advisor of Red Bull. While Marko may have appeared strict to some of the Red Bull Academy juniors, Verstappen did not find him intimidating. Verstappen, who is now a three-time World Champion at the age of 26, attributes his success to his father’s rigorous training and the lessons learned from the Red Bull Junior Academy. Despite the Academy’s reputation for being demanding on young racers, Verstappen never found Marko to be frightening.
Helmut Marko has been a part of Red Bull Racing for many years and has produced renowned racers like Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo. The Red Bull Junior Academy is often referred to as the Helmut Marko Academy for F1 racers. However, some drivers who graduated from the Academy have criticized Marko’s methods and the intense pressure they were subjected to.
Verstappen, on the other hand, disagrees with the idea that Marko was “brutal” in his approach. He claims to have never been afraid of the Austrian.
In the 2023 season, Red Bull’s RB23 showcased its dominance in terms of speed and performance, with Verstappen emerging victorious in 19 out of the 22 races. Dutch racer Robin Frijns believes that Verstappen’s exceptional performance will continue in 2024, giving him a significant edge once again.
Frijns, in an interview with Formule1.nl, mentioned that he stays in contact with Sébastien Buemi, the RB simulator driver, who frequently collaborates with Red Bull. According to Frijns, it appears that the team has made further enhancements to the car.
In unrelated news, Verstappen has been live-streaming F1 videogame sessions on his Twitch channel during the winter break. He has also engaged with fans during these sessions. In one of these interactions, Verstappen made a lighthearted remark about football legend Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence of tattoos, debunking a popular misconception.
According to the Source firstsportz.com