Marko: 'Verstappen a bigger success story than Vettel's four titles'

In Austria, he let it be known to Kurier in Austria he let us know that the world title with Max Verstappen is on top of his list."He is definitely our biggest success story. Despite Vettel with four titles. After all, Max is still very young at 24, but already extremely experienced."

Many of the age records in Formula 1 are held by Verstappen, but the youngest world champion is not in the hands of the Dutchman. Sebastian Vettel managed to grab the world championship title in 2010 at the age of 23, with 134 days remaining. Verstappen is 'only' the fourth youngest. Lewis Hamilton was 23 years and 9 months old when he won his first title. Fernando Alsonso was 24 years and 1 month old in 2005 when he became the best in the world for the first time. Max Verstappen was 24 years, 2 months and 12 days.

A huge number of drivers have defended the Red Bull Racing colours as juniors. Of course there are many success stories with Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz, Max Verstappen and also Pierre Gasly, but many of the drivers did not make it to Formula 1. However, Marko says they have become more than successful in other racing classes.

Marko says he has no problem with bad-news interviews. "A driver like Jean-Éric Vergne (who raced a total of 58 races for the then Toro Rosso) earns four million a season in Formula E. It may sound harsh, but: that which drops out of Formula 1 is still very capable of having a good career in another racing class."