Helmut Marko made some bold remarks following an eventful weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Marko suggested that Max Verstappen could have clinched the Canadian Grand Prix victory even if he were driving a McLaren or a Mercedes. Verstappen turned a P2 grid position into a win, while Lando Norris finished second and Lewis Hamilton secured a P4 finish despite showing promise during practice sessions.
Red Bull entered qualifying without high expectations due to a rough start to the weekend, highlighted by a power unit change. Nevertheless, Verstappen delivered under pressure, matching polesitter George Russell’s time, while his teammate Sergio Perez was knocked out in Q1.
In contrast, McLaren and Mercedes seemed to have the fastest cars but failed to secure a win on Sunday. Norris couldn’t close the gap on Verstappen after the first round of pit stops, and although Hamilton made a strong recovery, he still trailed behind his teammate.
When asked by OE24 if Verstappen could have won in a McLaren or Mercedes, Marko confidently said, “Yes. Only Max has the race overview and the confidence to push when necessary. Additionally, our team executed the perfect strategy.”
Despite recent challenges, Marko believes Verstappen is the key difference-maker. He elaborated on the team’s plans, stating, “It won’t be straightforward because our car and simulator have certain weaknesses. But we are working hard to fix these. We’ve always known we wouldn’t win every race. It’s beneficial that others lack consistency. If everything goes smoothly for us, Max will lead the race.”
Verstappen’s latest victory, paired with a DNF for Charles Leclerc, gives him a 56-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship standings heading into Barcelona. This advantage is crucial if Red Bull’s difficulties on street circuits also affect traditional road courses.
While Verstappen appeared unshakeable in Montreal’s variable conditions, his teammate Perez struggled. Despite signing a two-year contract extension, Perez’s performance on track was lackluster.
The performance gap between the two Red Bull drivers this season is evident, with Perez trailing 87 points behind Verstappen and having scored only four points in his last three Grands Prix.
