Max Verstappen: Helmut Marko explains missing "Max factor"

– Helmut Marko has taken on a new role in his “Formula 1 retirement”. The 82-year-old is the new ambassador for the Red Bull Ring in Austria. A connection that was obvious. “I am happy about this new role. Thanks to my age, I experienced the beginnings,” Marko recalls. “That was 1969/70, the first Grand Prix.”

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In 1970, the first Formula 1 race took place on the then-new Österreichring. Marko competed once in his home race in the premier class. That was in 1971 with a BRM. He finished eleventh, two laps down.

After his withdrawal at the end of 2025 from Red Bull’s Formula 1 project, Marko followed the first races from afar. The technical changes in the new regulations are viewed with mixed feelings by the former winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1971).

“At the moment, the television enjoyment is not optimal due to the regulations. But the big difference is, I sit comfortably at home and don’t have these constant flights, time differences and all that. So it’s a more pleasant and also much more relaxed approach.”

Especially Max Verstappen, with whom Marko still maintains “loose” contact, has repeatedly expressed criticism of the new Formula 1. The Austrian naturally knows the four-time world champion very well and can understand the frustration.

“Verstappen is a thoroughbred racer and the current regulation is more about energy, budget, energy management. But that only works in agreement with the software engineers. So the dominant role has been taken away from the driver,” Marko finds.

“Now the regulation is new, adaptations are being carried out. Some have already been carried out, but whether it can be managed so that the driver is ultimately the decisive factor again, I cannot judge at the moment.”

Verstappen’s new motorsport love seems to be the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, where he drives more and more often with the GT3 car. When Marko currently talks to him on the phone, it’s “more about the Nürburgring than about Formula 1”. Marko is also impressed by his Nordschleife appearances.

In Formula 1, Verstappen cannot make the difference

With sixth and eighth places, the Dutchman has only collected twelve championship points in the first three Formula 1 race weekends. At times, Isack Hadjar, his new teammate who is contesting his second Formula 1 season, was faster.

Has the famous “Max factor” disappeared? “The Max factor is only there when he has a car that he has confidence in, that is predictable,” Marko explains to APA. “That is not the case at the moment.”

“And there you can already see how close Hadjar is to him. It was the same with Perez when he arrived. The car was overweight and because of that Max needs a very strong front end. That is not the case at the moment.”

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“Especially this late braking and driving absolutely at the limit in fast corners, that’s just gone now. But as I said, in the past Red Bull has managed it and I believe they will manage it again this time.”

Marko trusts Red Bull to turn things around

In the team standings, Red Bull is only in sixth place after the first three race weekends behind Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, Haas and Alpine. After many very successful years, the Austrian-British racing team has arrived in the midfield.

With several personnel departures in the recent past, including Adrian Newey, Christian Horner and most recently Marko, there have been many changes. Engineers less known to the public have also left the team for the competition.

Despite this, Marko is convinced that the team is still well-positioned: “Red Bull has a tradition and has proven it several times. It’s positive that the start in Melbourne was okay, with Hadjar’s third place in qualifying.”

“But the updates that came then, especially the one in Japan, took the car in the wrong direction. It got worse. But thank God there is now a four or five-week break.”

“In the course of the European season, it can be assumed that Red Bull can be at the front again,” Marko is optimistic. With 19 race weekends remaining, the season is long. Last year, Red Bull was also able to initiate a turnaround and fight for the world title until the end.

Nevertheless, it is also clear to Marko that Mercedes is the overwhelming favorite. With two recent victories, Kimi Antonelli has made headlines not only in his home country of Italy. Can the 19-year-old really challenge his experienced teammate George Russell?

“He’s already doing that,” says Marko, but adds, “but can he maintain this form over a whole season. That is the question. Last year he had a slump when the races in Europe started.”

“Russell is fast. I mean, he was also unlucky twice with the safety car. I think in terms of routine, Russell has an advantage.” At the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Austria, which takes place on June 28, Marko will not only be there as an ambassador.

What Marko is most looking forward to this year is visiting another race in Spielberg: “MotoGP! That is still real motorsport, where the driver is massively in demand. They slide, they make black marks on the asphalt, just incredible, and the lean angles. That’s a different world, you see it up close.” MotoGP visits the Red Bull Ring on September 20.

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