Lewis Hamilton no longer a threat as Marko ‘doubts’ Verstappen will… read more
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has expressed doubts that Lewis Hamilton will pose a significant threat to Max Verstappen in the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, even if Ferrari produces a competitive car. Marko’s comments come after Hamilton joined Ferrari, aiming for a record-breaking eighth championship. However, Marko believes that Hamilton, now 40 years old, may no longer have the consistency required to challenge Verstappen over a full season, especially after several years of struggle with Mercedes.
Hamilton, a seven-time World Champion, has seen his dominance in F1 wane in recent seasons. He was dethroned by Verstappen in the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and has won only two races in the last three seasons. Despite this, Hamilton hopes that his switch to Ferrari will provide him with a fresh opportunity to secure a championship in 2025.
However, Marko has questioned whether Hamilton can still maintain peak performance across an entire season. He acknowledged that Hamilton remains fast but raised concerns about the veteran driver’s ability to keep up with Verstappen in what is expected to be a highly competitive season. Marko even stated that even with a strong Ferrari, if Red Bull delivers a “mediocre” car for Verstappen, he still believes the Dutch driver would come out on top.
Marko also dismissed Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, as a serious contender, citing Leclerc’s tendency to make mistakes during races. According to Marko, neither Leclerc nor Hamilton stands out as a threat to Verstappen, with no other drivers demonstrating the necessary consistency or overall skill to challenge the Red Bull driver. He also emphasized that McLaren and Ferrari, despite showing good performance in 2024, did not have any drivers who could match Verstappen’s abilities.
Marko continued to praise Verstappen, describing him as the most well-rounded driver in modern Formula 1. He emphasized Verstappen’s ability to extract more performance from his car than anyone else, gaining valuable tenths of a second per lap that other drivers simply cannot find. This skill has helped Verstappen secure four consecutive championships, with the 27-year-old now aiming for a fifth title in 2025. Marko’s goal is to continue providing Verstappen with a car capable of consistently competing for victories, stating that the team’s working window must be expanded to maintain their dominance.
Marko’s comments also come amid ongoing speculation about Verstappen’s future at Red Bull. Verstappen is contracted with the team until 2028, but reports have linked him to potential moves to Mercedes and Aston Martin. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner confirmed that Verstappen’s contract includes a “performance element,” which could allow him to leave if the team fails to provide a competitive car. Despite this, Marko remains confident that Verstappen will stay with Red Bull, predicting that Verstappen will secure a fifth title in 2025 and continue with the team in 2026.
Marko’s confidence in Red Bull’s ability to provide a competitive car for Verstappen is rooted in the progress the team’s engineers have made with the car’s development. Marko expressed optimism that Red Bull will be able to prevent any scenario in which Verstappen might seek an early exit from his contract. In response to rumors of Mercedes’ interest in Verstappen, Marko reiterated that Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until 2028, and he believes that Verstappen’s loyalty to the team will ensure his continued presence at Red Bull, especially as a five-time World Champion.
With Verstappen continuing to dominate and Hamilton facing an uphill battle to reclaim his former glory, it seems that Red Bull and Verstappen’s reign at the top of Formula 1 is set to continue for the foreseeable future.
