Former Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko has praised Max Verstappen's evolution in Formula 1, stating the driver no longer requires guidance. In an interview, the 82-year-old reflected on their shared achievements after stepping down from his role at the end of 2025. Marko expressed confidence in Verstappen's future success with the right equipment.
Helmut Marko, who served as Red Bull's motorsport adviser, has highlighted the remarkable progress of Max Verstappen during his time at the team. Marko played a key role in Verstappen's career through the Red Bull Junior Team, which also developed talents like Sebastian Vettel. The Austrian, now 82, announced his departure from the Milton Keynes-based outfit at the end of 2025 and shared his thoughts in an interview with F1 Insider.
Verstappen debuted in Formula 1 with Toro Rosso—now known as Racing Bulls—at the age of 17 and has since matured into a more composed leader within Red Bull. "Max is now a father, has cats and dogs, a balanced life – and is clearly one of the greats in motorsport, if not the greatest," Marko said. He added, "But he has developed to such an extent that he no longer needs guidance. It would be presumptuous of me to add anything to that. In that sense, it's a good solution."
The pair share a close bond. Marko recounted informing Verstappen of his exit: they had planned dinner in Dubai after Marko's discussion with Oliver Mintzlaff, but a plane issue prevented it. Instead, Marko called the next day. "We talked about the past, not nostalgically, but: what we've achieved is something no one could have imagined," he recalled.
Looking ahead, Marko remains optimistic about the four-time champion. "For Max, it's not over yet," he continued. "I don't see any end to his abilities, his incredible driving skills, and his technical intuition. If the right car is available, he'll win several more world championship titles."
