Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko said Sergio Pérez always gives his best, but doesn't try to fight with Max Verstappen, and compared the Dutchman to Ayrton Senna
Sergio Pérez has been proving with every race that he is a great driver for Red Bull. Last Sunday (3) at Silverstone, the Mexican driver made a great recovery run and finished second after having his front wing damaged early in the race. Even so, Helmut Marko, consultant for the Taurine team, said he is the perfect teammate for Max Verstappen, not because of his performance, but because he does not fight with the reigning Formula 1 champion.
"Max can go fast with any car. That's why having Sergio Pérez as his teammate is perfect. Czech doesn't try to fight, but does his best, and that can lead to victory, like in Baku last year. The two work very well together," Helmut said in an interview with the Red Bulletin.
Pérez is currently second in the Drivers' World Championship standings, but has already given way to Verstappen in Spain and Azerbaijan. Carlos Sainz, the Dutchman's first Formula One teammate, won for the first time at Silverstone. For Marko, the Spaniard was not belittled in Red Bull's junior program, and was actually just unlucky to be compared to Max.
"There was a complaint because some people thought Carlos had been underestimated. His development was also very good and the difference between the two was often minimal. But even though he had less experience, Max was the faster driver, and that's why we promoted him to Red Bull. Carlos was simply unlucky to have Max as a teammate," explained the Red Bull consultant.
Verstappen arrived in Formula 1 in 2015 straight from Formula 3, when he was still 17 years old. After that, a minimum age of 18 was introduced for the category, something that bothers Helmut. The Austrian praised the work done by the Dutchman's father, Jos, and compared the current champion to Brazilian Ayrton Senna.
"He had a very good upbringing, but also a very tough one from his father. That's what shaped him. In Italy, you can practice karting all year round, and as soon as it starts raining, everyone goes to the cafeteria. Max was the only one who had to stay outside and train," Marko said.
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"After Max participated in his first race at 17, they added a rule that says you have to see at least 18. I think the age limit is wrong. If you have the right training and the talent, you can make it at 16. In terms of character, commitment, self confidence and charisma, I compare him to Senna," concluded the Red Bull consultant.
With his seventh place in the British GP, Verstappen currently has 181 points at the top of the Drivers' World Championship, 34 more than Pérez. Formula 1 returns this Sunday for the Austrian GP, where Max has four career wins.