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Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen – A Bond Beyond Racing

Arthur Ling by Arthur Ling
February 3, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Max Verstappen’s path to F1 greatness: The pivotal meeting that sealed his Red Bull destiny

MONZA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 02: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing talks with Red Bull Racing Team Consultant Dr Helmut Marko in the garage during practice for the Formula One Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza on September 2, 2016 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // P-20160904-00375 // Usage for editorial use only // Please go to www.redbullcontentpool.com for further information. //

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How the Red Bull Advisor Became the Guiding Force Behind Verstappen’s F1 Reign

If there’s one man responsible for Max Verstappen’s meteoric rise to Formula 1 dominance, it’s Dr. Helmut Marko. The 81-year-old Red Bull Motorsport Consultant has shaped the careers of many top drivers, but when it comes to Verstappen, the connection is unlike any other.

Marko himself has never felt this close to a driver before, and while some call him Verstappen’s “second father,” the Austrian tactician is hesitant to use that term himself.

“I have never felt so connected to a driver, and I admit that directly. Whether I am his second father, you won’t hear me say that,” Marko explained.

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A Relationship That Started at 13

Marko’s first serious conversation with Verstappen happened when the Dutchman was just 13 years old. Unlike other young drivers, where Marko typically spends 10-15 minutes evaluating their potential, his meeting with Verstappen lasted over an hour. That conversation convinced him—Verstappen was special.

“Normally, in such a conversation, I talk to a young driver for 10 to 15 minutes. With Max, it was more than an hour,” Marko recalled.

It was this interaction that led Red Bull to fast-track Verstappen into F1—bypassing Formula 2 altogether and placing him at Toro Rosso in 2015 at just 17 years old. The move was unprecedented and widely criticized at the time. Now? It looks like one of the greatest gambles in F1 history.


Why Marko is Still in F1 at 81

With four consecutive championships, Verstappen is now the undisputed king of the grid. But even after decades in motorsport, Helmut Marko remains as passionate as ever—and he credits one reason for his continued involvement in the sport:

“I still do this work for two reasons: one is Max.”

For Marko, Verstappen’s success is personal. His belief in Max’s talent, combined with his ruthless determination to secure Red Bull’s future, has led to one of the most dominant F1 partnerships ever.


The Red Bull Gamble That Paid Off

When Marko pushed Red Bull to sign Verstappen, it was a huge risk. But in 2016, when Red Bull promoted Verstappen to the main team after just four races, it immediately paid dividends—Max won the Spanish Grand Prix on debut.

Since then, Verstappen has rewritten the F1 history books:
✅ Youngest Grand Prix winner (18 years, 228 days)
✅ Four consecutive F1 titles (2021-2024)
✅ Record-breaking season dominance in 2023 & 2024

And at just 27 years old, he’s far from finished.


The Legacy of Marko & Verstappen

As F1 heads into the 2025 season, Red Bull remains the team to beat, and Verstappen is still the favorite for the title. But with McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes closing the gap, the battle is far from over.

One thing is certain: Marko’s unwavering faith in Verstappen changed F1 history forever. Whether it’s father-like guidance or a mentor-protégé relationship, the bond between them is one of the strongest in the sport.

And as long as Max Verstappen keeps winning, you can bet Helmut Marko isn’t going anywhere.

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