Helmut Marko’s Bold Belief: The Turning Point for Max Verstappen’s Championship Hopes!
In a thrilling display of racing audacity at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, expectations were a rollercoaster ride for Red Bull Racing. On Saturday evening, team advisor Helmut Marko made a daring claim about the RB21, suggesting that its low ride height during qualifying might have been a misstep, leading to the car bottoming out in the challenging Turn 9. However, he remained adamant that this setback would not spell disaster for the race, insisting that a podium finish was still well within reach for Max Verstappen, who had secured a fifth-place starting position.
But the reigning world champion was not buying it. When confronted with Marko’s optimistic outlook, Verstappen shot back with blunt honesty, stating, “No, the car just doesn’t work. And it won’t work tomorrow either. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Fast forward to race day, and Verstappen proved his naysayers wrong by vaulting back onto the podium in Mexico City. When Motorsport.com pointed out how his dire predictions had materialized, Marko couldn’t help but chuckle, exclaiming, “Yes, you see?” Normally, the 82-year-old would relish in making a bet on such occasions, but this time, not a single team member was willing to take him up on it. “No, nobody wanted to bet with me, so it’s not fun. Nobody believed in that,” he lamented, highlighting the widespread skepticism, including from Verstappen himself.
Marko urged Verstappen to adopt a more positive mindset, telling him, “You have to think positive. And you saw what’s possible.” He reiterated the significance of ride height, asserting, “Basically, we were too low in qualifying, but if you are driving with full tanks, you don’t go so quick through the corners. And the downforce is not the same, so this touching wasn’t there anymore.”
But it wasn’t just the technical tweaks that made the difference; it was Verstappen’s relentless drive. “I was the only positive one within the team. But we know that when Max is in a race, it’s a different story. He forgets everything and he just goes,” Marko praised.
The race start was a moment of tension, especially when Marko observed four cars jostling for position going into Turn 1. “That’s Mexico. I think Max didn’t have any room, and he didn’t gain an advantage. I think the stewards did the right stuff,” he commented, adding a wry smile when asked about the incident involving Lewis Hamilton: “When they come together, there’s always action!”
After beginning the race on medium tires, Verstappen’s switch to softs became the pivotal moment, as Marko expressed his fears that lap times might falter. However, the Dutchman delivered consistent 1m21.2s laps, showcasing his iconic driving prowess. “That’s Verstappen, that’s typical Max,” Marko noted with admiration.
This impressive performance slashed Verstappen’s championship deficit to a mere 36 points with four races left in the season. When asked if he truly believed in a comeback, Marko flashed a smile: “I started believing after Monza already.” Yet he echoed Verstappen’s sentiment that absolute perfection is required moving forward, emphasizing, “Every point is essential. As we know, we must do everything perfectly. In the last four races, there are 116 points to score. But we must be perfect, and we can’t afford small mistakes in the set-up, which happened here.”
Looking ahead to the Brazilian Grand Prix, Marko revealed his hopes for a rain-soaked race, suggesting, “I hope so. So maybe we get another Verstappen show.” With the championship hanging in the balance and the stakes higher than ever, all eyes will be on Verstappen as he continues his relentless pursuit of greatness. Will the Dutch driver defy the odds once again? Only time will tell!
