Marko on special world title: 'It deserves emotionally special place'

Helmut Marko celebrated his sixth world title with Red Bull Racing this year in Japan. With Max Verstappen excelling, the Austrian speaks to Auto, Motor und Sport, about past world championships.

Red Bull's advisor will never forget the final race in Abu Dhabi in 2010. At the time, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel all still had a chance of winning the world title. In the end, it was Vettel who came out on top.

"The first title in 2010 was certainly the most exciting in the sense that it was decided in the last race and there were three candidates who could win," Marko said. "Since it was the first for Vettel and us, emotionally it deserves a special place."

Marko enjoys Verstappen's dominance

However, Marko has equally enjoyed the past two years. In 2021, Verstappen competed alongside Hamilton, again coming down to the final race weekend. "The 2021 championship, which was won in a true thriller with Hamilton, was the toughest in terms of psychological strain."

After last calendar year's blood-curdling season, things went a lot easier for Verstappen in 2022. "This year, the ease with which Verstappen secured some of his victories, especially the one at Spa, left a lasting impression." Marko is keen for Verstappen to go for the world title next year too.