Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo, Sebastian Vettel among brutal ratings by Red Bull’s Helmut Marko…

Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko is known for speaking his mind… to say the least.
Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo

He h♓as delivered a vicious verdict on current and former Red Bull drivers to the Red Bulletin.

Beware, some of his opinions will make you wince!

Alex Albon - “too nice!”

Alexander Albon (THA) Williams Racing. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg, Austria,
Alexander Albon (THA) Williams Racing. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand…

" didn't destroy🌌 his career, but he did put📖 a dampener on it.

"He was in second place in Brazil in 2019 when Hamilton drove him off the track. Then Alex wanted to pass Hamilton on the outside at the Red Bull Ring in 2020 but got pushed into𓂃 the gravel.

"He would have won that race but he came aw🦩ay empty-handed. He took a long time to get over that.

“Alex is very fast, but I wonder if he’s too nice. He🅰’s a bit like David Coulthard, who everyone likes, but wasn’t tough enough in the end.”

Pierre Gasly - “excuses!”

Pierre Gasly (FRA) AlphaTauri. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg, Austria, Preparation
Pierre Gasly (FRA) AlphaTauri. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand Prix,…

“He looked for excuses ins🎶tead of tackling his own mistakes.

“He is the tea🐼m leader and doing incredible things. Like his compatriot Fr🌌ancois Cevert, he is fast, cheeky and devoted to the beautiful things in life.”

Daniel Ricciardo - “Max was the crunch point”

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) McLaren. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg, Austria, Qualifying
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) McLaren. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand Prix,…

"A cheerful, natural talent with outstanding ca൩r control. Daniel gets into the car and is fast straight from the off.

"In his f♔irst year at , he beat Vettel by three wins to nil. Max coming on the scene was a crunch point in his career. Rather than taking up the fight, he want🌄ed to keep his distance. And you know what happened next. That’s too bad.

“He was always nice to work with. His speed is comparable to that of Max, but he’s jusౠt lacking that ultimate consi⭕stency.”

Carlos Sainz - “toxic” with Max

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Ferrari. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg, Austria, Qualifying
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Ferrari. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand Prix,…

"For a long time, he live🧜d in the shadow of his father, the two-time World Rally champion. He was unfairly saddled with the image of being the spoiled son of a racing driver whereas, on the contrary, Carlos had to fight consistently to get ahead.

“It was his bad luck to get Max as a team-mate. The atmosphere between the two at was qui🍬te toxic.

"In the set-up we had at the time, I c🔜ouldn’t see a way of keeping him with us and so he moved to , and then on to .”

Yuki Tsunoda - “no one can blow their top like he does!”

Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) AlphaTauri. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg, Austria, Qualifying
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) AlphaTauri. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand Prix,…

“[He’s] prone to🔜 outbursts of anger, but he is bloody fast, whatever you say. We believe in him and his huge potential. When he isn’t under stress, he’s incredibly funny and likeable. Everyone likes Yuki, even if no one can blow their top quite like he does.”

Sebastian Vettel - “he made ultimate use…”

Sebastian Vettel (GER) Aston Martin F1 Team. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg, Austria,
Sebastian Vettel (GER) Aston Martin F1 Team. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian…

"Sebastian came to us at a very young age. He was a very, 🐟very analytical worker. Very industrious. He made optimal use of all technical possibilities.

"Thi♍s was also why he ultimately had the upper hand over a talente♚d Mark Webber, and by quite some distance.

"Whenever t🧸here were technical innovations - the blown diffuser, a new tyre manufacturer - he made optimal use of his technical expertise. That ability is what made him a four-time world champion."

Max Verstappen - “no one quicker”

Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing celebrates being fastest in qualifying in parc ferme. Formula 1 World Championship,
Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing celebrates being fastest in qualifying in parc ferme…

"Max is the fastest driver we've ever had. He's ꧙also gradually becoming the most complete racing driver. He is the type of generational talent you see once in a dꦚecade.

"That perfect combination of speed, 🌊performance and self-confidence is unique. In terms of driving, there's currently no one quicker than him over a single lap.

"Max is a champ💙ion who received the perfect tools for his career fro🦂m his father and who is more relaxed than ever thanks to that world championship."

Sergio Perez - “he chooses his own hotels…”

Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull Racing. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg, Austria,
Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull Racing. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 11, Austrian Grand Prix,…

"He arrived with a win under his belt and he was in a positive mood. Then he met Max. This led to a certain amo🅰unt of uncertainty, especiaꦫlly in qualifying. But he put that behind him.

"Checo is a great team🐈 player. Max wouldn't have won the world championship without him.

"In private, he knows how to enjoy life. He chooses his own hotels and lives within the team with his ow𒀰n advisors. I don't know exactly what they all do, but they are very nice people."

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