Helmut Marko, the long-serving Red Bull advisor, has opened up about one of the most pivotal decisions in the team’s history: promoting Max Verstappen to Red Bull Racing mid-way through the 2016 season. While the gamble on the then-teenage Verstappen paid off spectacularly, Marko acknowledged the move might have cost Daniel Ricciardo a shot at the championship.
The Verstappen gamble: a win from the start
Verstappen’s promotion to Red Bull in 2016 was a bold move that immediately reaped rewards. In his very first race with the team, the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen claimed victory, becoming the youngest race winner in Formula 1 history. The Dutchman’s meteoric rise left Ricciardo, who had been the team’s lead driver since 2014, overshadowed.
Recalling the gamble, Marko said:
“I decided very quickly to bet completely on Verstappen, and things went a certain way. Max won a race straight away in Spain. Maybe, if I had bet more on Ricciardo by postponing Verstappen’s arrival at Red Bull, Daniel might have won a title. But I did it differently and I don’t regret it at all.”
The fallout for Ricciardo
Ricciardo had shown immense promise in his early Red Bull years, famously defeating reigning champion Sebastian Vettel in 2014 and solidifying himself as one of the sport’s top drivers. However, Verstappen’s rapid ascent shifted the team’s focus, and Ricciardo’s performance began to falter under the pressure.
Marko admitted that Ricciardo’s trajectory could have been different had Red Bull given him more support:
“Daniel was incredibly talented, but the choice fell on Max. It was a gamble, and I lost with Daniel—but I won with Verstappen.”
Verstappen: a “different class” of driver
Fast forward to 2024, Verstappen has cemented his place among Formula 1’s all-time greats, recently securing his fourth consecutive championship. Marko lauded the Dutchman as being in a league of his own:
“To be honest, I think Max—compared to the current competition and even to Vettel himself—is in a different class. He is just on a completely different level.”
Despite Red Bull’s dip in form over recent seasons, Verstappen’s dominance has remained consistent. However, the team’s inability to contend for the Constructors’ Championship has raised concerns about their future competitiveness and Verstappen’s long-term commitment.
Red Bull’s challenge: keeping Verstappen satisfied
With other top teams reportedly making lucrative offers to Verstappen, Red Bull must address their performance issues to keep their star driver engaged. The Dutchman has not shied away from expressing frustration with the team’s struggles, and Marko acknowledged the pressure to improve:
“Milton Keynes must find improvement in pace to keep Verstappen satisfied. He has options, and if Red Bull doesn’t meet expectations, a switch in teams is always a possibility.”
Looking back, no regrets
For Marko, the decision to prioritize Verstappen over Ricciardo remains the right call. The Dutchman’s unmatched talent has become the cornerstone of Red Bull’s success, even if it came at the expense of Ricciardo’s potential championship glory.
“Max never looked back after his debut win,” Marko concluded. “I’m happy that I lost the gamble on Ricciardo and won the gamble on Verstappen. He’s the future, and he’s taken Red Bull to a level no one else could.”
