“Max Verstappen has been strong on the street circuits in 2021”: Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko cites past races to explain Red Bull ace is likely to beat Lewis Hamilton in Saudi Arabia

"Max Verstappen has been strong on the street circuits in 2021": Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko cites past races to explain Red Bull ace is likely to beat Lewis Hamilton in Saudi Arabia

Helmut Marko thinks that Max Verstappen is a powerful driver on a street circuit, and he can use that to his advantage in Jeddah. 

Formula 1 will make its debut in Saudi Arabia next week. The Jeddah Corniche Circuit in the Middle Eastern country is labelled as the fastest street circuit in the world. It is due to become a permanent addition to the F1 calendar from 2022 onwards.

The track is expected to suit Mercedes due to its high-speed layout. Red Bull chief advisor Marko, however, thinks his driver Max Verstappen will have the upper hand. The Austrian feels that Verstappen has been stronger on street circuits in 2021, which he can use in Jeddah.

Verstappen won the Monaco GP comfortably back in May and was on course to win in Baku too before his tyres exploded. Marko is hoping for a similar performance from the 24-year-old in a week.

Also read:  Sebastian Vettel says he is not looking forward to visiting Saudi Arabia for the next round of Formula 1

“Max Verstappen will once again make the difference”

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have looked unbeatable in the last two races in Brazil and Qatar. On top of that, Red Bull are struggling with rear wing issues of their own. Still, Marko believes that Max can take control of the race and win it.

“We believe in Verstappen’s qualities on street circuits,” said Marko. “He won in Monaco and dominated in Baku before his unfortunate blowout. In Saudi Arabia, the driver will once again be able to make the difference.” he added.

The Red Bull boss also said they are not worried about the Mercedes engine. It won’t have as much power as it showed two weeks ago in Sao Paolo.

Verstappen leads Lewis Hamilton by just 8 points going into the race. The Dutch driver has a chance of winning the title that weekend provided Hamilton’s outing in Jeddah goes catastrophically downhill.

The final round of the F1 season takes place in the week following the Saudi Arabian GP in Abu Dhabi.

Post Edited By: Tanish Chachra
Helmut Marko Max Verstappen Red Bull

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Somin Bhattacharjee

Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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