Helmut Marko identifies Max Verstappen Red Bull 'successor'

Former Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has labelled Dutch rising star Rocco Coronel as a potential “successor” to Max Verstappen.

Verstappen has enjoyed significant success with Red Bull throughout his F1 career, winning four titles and over 70 grands prix.

However, the 28-year-old has cast doubt over his short-term future on various occasions, with his most recent threat surrounding his lack of enjoyment with the new-for-2026 cars.

Red Bull runs a strict junior driver programme, which has provided F1 opportunities to many names throughout its existence.

Coronel, who will graduate to single-seater competition this year as a Red Bull junior, caught the attention of Marko at a 2024 test. After testing a Formula 4 car, Marko opted to fit him behind the wheel of a GP3 machine while singing his praises.

"For his age, Rocco performed extraordinarily," Marko said in a recently released Viaplay documentary that followed Coronel.

"A GP3 car like that is already quite a fast car, but he did very well. 

“He was immediately the fastest. I'm sure that when Max Verstappen stops, we might already have his successor in place.

"He is already very mature and exudes confidence. He explained how he combines racing with school and together we soon knew a route for him.”

Coronel will race full-time in the Spanish Formula 4 category this year as he looks to progress his racing career.

Having worked under the guidance of Marko since late 2024, the Dutch teenager revealed he received frequent congratulatory texts from the hard-to-please senior advisor.

"That's very positive, because my understanding is that he normally doesn't append anyone so quickly,” Coronel said.

However, Marko is no longer overseeing the Red Bull junior team after parting ways with the company at the end of 2025.