Marko on Verstappen and Sainz: 'Not a healthy relationship at Toro Rosso'

Speaking to Auto, Motor und Sport, Helmut Marko says that Max Verstappen's switch in 2016 suited him fine. The Dutchman was driving for Toro Rosso at the time and made the move to Red Bull Racing, immediately solving two problems.

First of all, Verstappen provided improved performance. Where Daniil Kvyat could not manage to achieve the same results as Daniel Ricciardo, Verstappen adapted with lightning speed and even managed to take an immediate victory in the Spanish Grand Prix.

At the same time, the problem between Sainz and Verstappen had been solved. In fact, Marko remembers well that the fathers of both drivers in particular did not get along well, causing a lot of unrest behind the scenes.

"We had Sainz and Verstappen at the same time," Marko recalls. "That was not a healthy relationship at Toro Rosso. On one side there was the shrewd politician Carlos Sainz Senior, and on the other side the emotional Jos Verstappen. Things got heated at times."

Marko had to crack down internally

When Verstappen went to Red Bull in 2016, Sainz's father was reportedly by no means happy that his son was not given the opportunity. "Internally, we sometimes had to act tough, even though it always looked harmonious to the outside world," he said.