"I get on very well with Helmut, he's a bit like a second father to me"

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15:18, 22 Dec 2020

Well-known Red Bull boss Helmut Marko has been closely involved in the race development of Max Verstappen for a long time, partly due to the role of father Jos as an intermediary. In the light of the new documentary 'Whatever it Takes' about the early racing years of the Dutchman, Verstappen now once again lights the veil on the role of Marko in his developing career.

In an interview on Verstappen.com the Dutchman, who managed to secure a third place in the championship, states that Helmut Marko acts as a kind of father figure within Red Bull. "I get along really well with Helmut. He is always very honest and open. He is a bit like a second father to me."

Max also makes the connection with his own father, Jos, and compares the contributions of both father figures to his career. "I experienced something similar with my father, of course, in the time before I drove Formula 1. From my time at Red Bull my father disappeared more into the background and Helmut came more into the picture," said Verstappen.

Shared ambitions

Asked about the shared ambitions between himself and Marko, Verstappen declared convincingly: To become world champion. He explained: "We work hard for that, with the whole team. I still have a lot of time, but I hope we already have a chance for the title next year."

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	219
2	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	169
3	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	160
4	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	138
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	128
6	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	109
7	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	92
8	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	68
9	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	43
10	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	42
11	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	23
12	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	19
13	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
14	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	10
15	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
16	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	5
17	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	3
18	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	2
19	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	1
20	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0
21	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
22	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0

"I get on very well with Helmut, he's a bit like a second father to me"

Shared ambitions

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