Marko: 'There is one downside to having Verstappen in your team'

Alexander Albon gave another reason to Christian Horner and Helmut Marko to replace him at Red Bull Racing during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez are preying for his seat. It remains a difficult choice as long as Max Verstappen is number one.

Second driver crucial for Red Bull Racing

Red Bull Racing has been dry on world titles for seven years. All those years Mercedes were simply too good. In 2021 the Austrian team has to try again to go for the win. In recent years it has become clear that with Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon next to Max Verstappen they were not going to succeed. Is it time for a little more experience?

A strong second driver is a crucial part of winning a championship and that's what Red Bull lacks. At Imola the importance of two strong drivers was once again demonstrated when Mercedes was able to experiment with alternative pit strategies.

The Verstappen blessing also comes with a curse

Who should replace Albon as a teammate of the strong Verstappen?  Autobild.de quotes team advisor Helmut Marko: "Verstappen is an exceptional talent. Nevertheless, we need to get a driver who can come close to him, to at least two or three tenths of a second."

Let that be particularly difficult with the fast Verstappen. Two strong drivers who look like good options and are still looking for a seat, are Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez. Former team boss of these two drivers, Otmar Szafnauer, knows: "Both have the mental strength to drive alongside Verstappen."