Helmut Marko: Rival F1 teams fear junior drivers

 Helmut Marko, Motorsport consultant at Red Bull, openly criticized Formula 1 rival teams for showing reluctance in promoting young drivers.

With a successful track record of nurturing talents like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, Marko leads Red Bull’s young driver program, known for its approach to giving opportunities to new talents in the sport.In his article for Speedweek, Marko lamented the stance of competing teams without directly naming names but emphasizing that some drivers on the grid are stagnating and not showing consistent progress.

According to him, these drivers end up blocking the path for young aspirants looking for a chance in Formula 1.”There are drivers on the grid who are stagnant and vary between being slightly better or worse depending on their mood,” Marko stated. He highlighted the case of Oliver Bearman as a positive example of a young driver poised to enter Formula 1, despite his less than stellar results in Formula 2.

Marko stressed the importance of more young drivers getting the opportunity to compete at the highest level of motorsport.In Marko’s view, Formula 1 rival teams also fear investing in junior drivers due to associated risks. “Teams are also afraid of young drivers.

Of course, they make mistakes, but I prefer to see someone making mistakes and representing hope for the future than seeing no further improvements,” explained the Red Bull consultant.In addition to Bearman, Marko pointed out other Red Bull drivers ready to take the next step, such as Isack Hadjar, whose performance in Formula 2 has been impressive. During the Formula 1 summer break, Marko plans to thoroughly analyze the performance of Red Bull’s junior drivers, aiming to continue promoting talents within the team.

With his criticisms, Helmut Marko underscores the importance of making room for young drivers in Formula 1, not just to refresh the grid but also to ensure a vibrant and competitive future for the sport.

The discussion on talent development and promotion remains a relevant topic in the automotive landscape, as teams and fans alike hope to see more diversity and new names in the world championship.