Breaking news
Formula 1
Leclerc the biggest talent without Red Bull deal - Marko
Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc is the biggest talent in single-seater racing not signed to Red Bull, according to the energy drink giant’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.
Valentin Khorounzhiy Christian Nimmervoll
Published: Feb 2, 2020, 9:06 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Leclerc will head into his third F1 season in 2020, having taken two wins and seven pole positions in his first campaign as a Ferrari driver last year.
He had remained unsigned by an F1 team in the early years of his junior career until 2016, before taking back-to-back championships in GP3 and F2 after joining the Ferrari junior programme.
Marko has no regrets about the current state of the Red Bull driver development scheme, and is proud of having an “extraordinary driving talent” in Max Verstappen under a long-term contract.
But when asked who the top single-seater talent not currently signed to a Red Bull deal is, Marko told Motorsport.com: “Leclerc. It’s quite clear, Leclerc.”
Red Bull has faced a shortage of F1-ready talent to fill its four grand prix racing seats in the recent seasons, which led to recalls for the likes of Brendon Hartley, Daniil Kvyat and Alexander Albon.
Marko, however, is still convinced that the Red Bull Junior Team is the driver development programme of choice for the top young prospects in single-seater racing.
Queried who the most talented non-Red Bull prospect was on the F1 junior ladder, Marko said: “I would say, without any arrogance – the boys, if they have a choice, they'll try to get with Red Bull first.
“But we have our principles, and we don't walk away from them. This decade, what we have experienced - everyone now has a lawyer they bring along. Some want one more comma [in the contract], this and that.
“We say - we have our system, it works. We are not prepared to compromise, and these are fair contracts [we offer].
“And in the junior categories, we're moving away from [recruiting in] karting. It's so difficult. In karting you have tyres, engines, chassis, that are always changing, but which have such an impact on performance. And we’re dealing with 12-year-olds, 13-year-olds.
“There are examples – we had Oli Oakes, who was world champion in karting and nowhere in formula cars. He now runs [top junior single-seater team] Hitech, with which we work well together.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB15, battles with Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF90
Photo by: Joe Portlock / Motorsport Images
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Racing Point wants 'best of the rest' status in 2020
Next article Sirotkin: F1 exit more painful now than before
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Valentin Khorounzhiy
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
WTCR
WTCR
Hungaroring
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
General
General
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
More from
Charles Leclerc
F1 United States GP: Charles Leclerc completes perfect Friday by topping FP2
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
3 h
F1 United States GP: Charles Leclerc completes perfect Friday by topping FP2
F1 United States GP: Charles Leclerc pips Max Verstappen to top FP1
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
6 h
F1 United States GP: Charles Leclerc pips Max Verstappen to top FP1
More from
Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Red Bull called Christian Horner to thank him for F1 engine project after maiden win
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Red Bull called Christian Horner to thank him for F1 engine project after maiden win
Latest news
MotoGP Australian GP: Marc Marquez recovers from crash to take pole at wet Phillip Island
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
50 min
MotoGP Australian GP: Marc Marquez recovers from crash to take pole at wet Phillip Island
No factory Honda bikes in Australian GP as Luca Marini withdraws due to virus
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
No factory Honda bikes in Australian GP as Luca Marini withdraws due to virus
"We're just a step behind" - what McLaren is trying to solve with its final 2026 upgrades
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
2 h
"We're just a step behind" - what McLaren is trying to solve with its final 2026 upgrades
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe