Helmut Marko is looking forward to the next generation in Formula 1. With Max Verstappen, Marko has a talent from that generation under contract at Red Bull Racing, but the Austrian also sees talented drivers driving at other teams.
The new generation in F1
In 2021, there was a generational battle between Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen. Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, took on one of the talents from the new generation: Verstappen. The outcome of that duel is well known. In 2022, however, there seems to be a switch and we will see more drivers from that generation competing at the front.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are driving at the front of the grid on behalf of Ferrari, but Lando Norris and George Russell are also showing up more and more. Marko thinks there is a generational change: ''With Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris and Russell you now have four drivers who will shape F1 in the coming years, '' the Red Bull advisor says to F1insider.com.
Leclerc behind Verstappen
Although Leclerc is at the top of the championship, he is not yet driving at the same level as Verstappen, according to Marko. ''First of all, Leclerc has won much less than Max and last year Sainz was still equivalent to him,'' he first sounds critical of the Monegasque's performance in recent years.
''Leclerc handles much better with the new Ferrari, drives very fast and is also faultless. His self-confidence has grown enormously. It's a bit reminiscent of Verstappen's sovereign last year. Now we have to make sure that his dominance is broken'', concludes the man from Graz.