Marko compares Verstappen to 'charismatic' all-time F1 great

Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko has said Max Verstappen reminds him of Ayrton Senna, the F1 driver considered by many as the greatest of all time.

Whilst that debate has long been considered reductive and near-impossible to call, it is nevertheless high praise for the Dutchman only weeks after moving clear of Senna in number of F1 drivers' titles won.

In securing his fourth championship at the recent Las Vegas Grand Prix, Verstappen reached the same plane as former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel - and Senna's old adversary, Alain Prost.

Senna, who tragically lost his life at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, has long been etched in F1 folklore as one of the championship's brightest stars.

His death is something that sets him apart from his peers in Marko's eyes, but the 81-year-old still sees a lot of him in Verstappen.

"He reminds me of Ayrton Senna," Marko told Servus TV. "The two are very similar in personality, although the charisma that Senna had and still has is incredible.

Of course, when someone has to deal with a fatal accident, the whole thing is amplified tragically. But of all the drivers I know, he is actually the most similar."

Red Bull's champions

Like Vettel - and unlike Senna and Prost - Verstappen has claimed all of his titles consecutively. The German driver clinched his four crowns with Red Bull between 2010-13, becoming the team's first title winner.

However, to Marko, there are clear differences in the way the Milton Keynes squad's two champions go about their business.

"It was a different era with Vettel," the Austrian said. "They are two contrasting types. Sebastian is incredible in terms of details and can spend an hour discussing small details with the engineers." 

"Max just does what is necessary and he has that well under control. With Max it would be great if we can aim for a fifth title. The team is motivated and knows it has to work hard. But we want the fifth title."