Verstappen opens up on impact of 'second father' in F1

Max Verstappen has detailed the impact "second father" Helmut Marko has had on him in F1 in an exclusive RacingNews365 interview.

Red Bull driver advisor Marko was repsonsible for placing Verstappen at Toro Rosso back in 2015 as a 17-year-old rookie, and then promoted him to the senior team after just 23 races, in early 2016.

Since then, the Dutchman has won 63 races and four world titles to become one of the most successful drivers of all-time - something he puts down to Marko - who he praised for his forthright honesty.

"Helmut gave me the opportunity to start in F1 and then also in moving me to the main team," Verstappen exclusively told RacingNews365. 

"We have lived a lot of positive and bad moments and of course, tough moment, but our relationship as grown over the years and it is very special for me. Helmut is my biggest fan. 

"I don't even see him like my boss anymore, it is like he is a second father. You can say anything to him and we are very straight and we share strong opinions to each other. 

"Of course, if I make a mistake, he tells me and I like that. Even in 2024, you go through tough moments, and then you have chats with him and it is like: 'Wow.' He is 82 years old, but his mind is very focused and he has so much racing experience. 

"He has a lot of respect for how I grew up with my dad, and he likes it. We have a very honest relationship."

Exclusive Max Verstappen interview

Verstappen closeness to Marko was highlighted at the start of 2024, when, amid a civil war at Red Bull, he hinted that if the Austrian was removed from his role, not of his own accord, he would consider leaving the team.

Marko is not employed by Red Bull Racing, but rather by Red Bull GmbH, with Verstappen's father Jos central to the tensions within the team. 

He was pushing for boss Christian Horner to be removed after an investigation into his behaviour, but Horner remained in post. 

Max Verstappen feels that his father's actions were all part of the honesty he wants from those around him.

"There were some moments, but now they are sitting together having a good chat, so things change and of course people have opinions," he said.

"My dad has strong opinions and that's how he is, he always wants the best for me, and he is always worried about stuff.

"He's always had a fair assessment of situations and sometimes you get a confrontation, but that's why I think you have to communicate with each other, even if you have differences in opinion, you can chat about it, and that will help."