F1 News
"I get on very well with Helmut, he's a bit like a second father to me"
- GPblog.com
Well-known Red Bull boss Helmut Marko has been closely involved in the race development of Max Verstappen for a long time, partly due to the role of father Jos as an intermediary. In the light of the new documentary 'Whatever it Takes' about the early racing years of the Dutchman, Verstappen now once again lights the veil on the role of Marko in his developing career.
In an interview on Verstappen.com the Dutchman, who managed to secure a third place in the championship, states that Helmut Marko acts as a kind of father figure within Red Bull. "I get along really well with Helmut. He is always very honest and open. He is a bit like a second father to me."
Max also makes the connection with his own father, Jos, and compares the contributions of both father figures to his career. "I experienced something similar with my father, of course, in the time before I drove Formula 1. From my time at Red Bull my father disappeared more into the background and Helmut came more into the picture," said Verstappen.
Shared ambitions
Asked about the shared ambitions between himself and Marko, Verstappen declared convincingly: To become world champion. He explained: "We work hard for that, with the whole team. I still have a lot of time, but I hope we already have a chance for the title next year."