Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has called out "narrow-minded interpretations" when listing the factors that could push Max Verstappen out of F1. The 81-year-old does not believe the Dutchman will have the same career longevity as Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton. In explaining why, he outlined reasons why Verstappen is more likely to call it quits than race into his 40s. The swearing debacle at the Singapore Grand Prix has brought the 27-year-old's F1 tenure back into focus, with Verstappen himself arguing that such issues will ultimately play a part in determining his future. "Max is not like Alonso or Hamilton," Marko told ORF . "They drive as long as their physical condition allows them to participate. "And yes, he [Verstappen] is quite interested in winning. But whether he has four, five or six world championships, that is not in the foreground for him. "He wants to enjoy and be enthusiastic about his sport. He wants an environment where he feels comfortable. That's just the way it is."
Marko calls for 'let-them-race' mantra
Marko then zeroed in on the swearing issue, which earned Verstappen a punishment equivalent to community service, whilst laying out other contributing factors. "The car is not competitive and then they come up with these penalties about an f-word in a press conference that was aimed at the car," the Austrian said. "That is ridiculous." Verstappen has often received criticism in the past for his wheel-to-wheel racing, with many within the paddock taking umbrage with his aggressive and direct style. Whilst accusations of foul play have died down over recent seasons - in part due to the dominance Red Bull has afforded him - the discontent has re-appeared this year, with the RB20 no longer the class of the field. At both the Austrian and Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen was judged to have crossed a line in what Red Bull has always defended as hard racing. "And this also applies to other moments like, for example, at the Red Bull Ring," said Marko. "He was accused of being much harder and a bit unfair. "He only did what is allowed in the regulations. He changed lines and defended them hard. We know he is a hard driver. "That's something the public wants to see, and I think in general we need to go back to that old racing philosophy of the English - 'Let them race' and not dictate how you behave. "It's clear that you shouldn't misbehave, but not with such narrow-minded interpretations."
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