F1’s generational talent Max Verstappen has returned Red Bull to their winning days for the first time since Sebastian Vettel’s last title in 2013. However, the Dutchman could have been a Mercedes driver if Toto Wolff had played his cards right.
Both Mercedes and Red Bull had scouted the 2x champion during his karting and F3 days. Wolff revealed recently that he had a proper discussion with Jos Verstappen regarding his son’s future.
Verstappen’s manager insisted on a racing seat that wasn’t available at Mercedes then. The Austrian hence rejected the youngster and passed the opportunity to Red Bull, something he regrets to this day. However, his answer surprised Helmut Marko.
Helmut Marko takes a dig at Toto Wolff’s response
Helmut Marko is an admirer of Max Verstappen. The Red Bull advisor had his eyes on the Dutch driver for a long time and swooped in with a contract and a 2015 F1 seat with Toro Rosso when Mercedes snubbed the driver.
Marko has always rated the driver and called him the next Ayrton Senna of the sport. Hence, the Austrian wasn’t shy to take a jab at Toto Wolff, who shared his regrets about missing Verstappen’s signature on a Mercedes contract.
Marko praised the Dutchman, “His talent would not have been visible enough in Formula 3, but then I don’t know where exactly Toto was. When I saw Max at the Norisring, it was already clear to me that he had something special.”
Since his debut in 2015, Verstappen has become a 2-time F1 champion and earned 41 wins. He is Red Bull’s most successful driver and has leveled Senna’s tally of wins, proving Marko’s prophecy right.
Anything is possible with Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen dominated the 2022 season by claiming a record 15 race wins. However, looking at the Dutchman’s unstoppable form in 2023, he could be beating some more records this year.
Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton hold 7 titles each. But Helmut Marko believes Verstappen is completely capable of setting the bar higher. The Austrian said, “When Schumacher retired, I thought, ‘Wow, his record will stand forever’. But then came the incredible performances of Mercedes and Lewis.”
Marko claims the 25-year-old is yet to reach his prime and can easily break all records set before his arrival. He added, “Without being too hopeful, but I believe that anything is possible.”
However, the 2x champion claims he is not obsessed with numbers and records. The driver feels he is lucky to drive a fantastic car like the RB19, which has decimated his competition with its pace.
Verstappen is set to stay with Red Bull until the 2028 season. However, whether the driver will continue racing for a long time remains a question. He has even hinted at retiring early from racing to pursue other projects.
