Formula 1 Monaco GP
Marko: Verstappen has reached a ‘different level of maturity’
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko believes Max Verstappen has reached a “different level of maturity” in Formula 1 after a dominant victory in Monaco on Sunday.
Luke Smith Christian Nimmervoll
Edited: May 27, 2021, 8:25 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Verstappen went lights-to-flag in Monaco to secure his second win of the season and move into the lead of the F1 drivers’ championship for the first time, capitalising on a bad weekend for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes.
After fending off Valtteri Bottas at the first corner, Verstappen rarely looked at risk of coming under pressure at the front of the race, crossing the line 8.9 seconds clear of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr.
The controlled display won Verstappen praise from Marko, who pointed out the young Dutchman’s maturity and composure in managing the race.
“He has certainly reached a different level of maturity,” Marko said on Sky Germany after the race. “We kept him on his toes with fuel modes and such. He had to understand quite a lot.
“When he started asking who had the fastest lap and with what time, we immediately blocked him and told him: ‘Forget all that!’”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, arrives on the podium
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Red Bull was quick to tell Verstappen not to chase the fastest lap after a late pit stop for Hamilton saw him fit fresh soft tyres, setting a time that was likely to be out of reach.
But the bonus point did not stop Hamilton from losing the lead of the championship, slipping four points behind Verstappen.
Taking top spot in the standings capped off a big day of firsts for Verstappen, who put to an end a difficult record in Monaco with a win that also marked his first podium in the principality.
Verstappen failed to finish in his first two Monaco starts, and missed a possible chance to win in 2018 after crashing in final practice, ruling him out of qualifying.
Despite finishing second on the road and hassling Hamilton for the lead in 2019, a five-second time penalty for an unsafe release in the pits dropped him to fourth place.
Asked what a victory in Monaco meant for Verstappen’s CV, Marko felt it would act as another boost, particularly due to the fashion of his performance.
Read Also:
- Ferrari uncovers cause of Leclerc's Monaco driveshaft hub failure
- The revamp that failed to help Mercedes win in Monaco
- McLaren never expected podium pace in Monaco
"We haven't had a podium here yet [with Max], although we've had a car that can win twice - Ricciardo proved that, after all,” Marko said. “I think that gives him another boost of relief. It should make his performances even more confident and controlled.
“That was also very, very important for the future.”
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 Hamilton grateful for ‘crappy days’ like Monaco to learn from
Next article McLaren's "special" F1 driving style hurting Ricciardo
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Luke Smith
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
Formula 1
Formula 1
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Formula 1
Formula 1
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
Formula 1
Formula 1
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
More from
Max Verstappen
"Unacceptable downshifts" – Max Verstappen explains what's behind a recurring F1 radio complaint
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 h
"Unacceptable downshifts" – Max Verstappen explains what's behind a recurring F1 radio complaint
F1 Brazil GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
23 h
F1 Brazil GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
More from
Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen jokes about rain threat in Brazil: "I've installed antivirus now!"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
Max Verstappen jokes about rain threat in Brazil: "I've installed antivirus now!"
Max Verstappen jokes about key difference with Kimi Antonelli at 20: “He speaks Italian!”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Max Verstappen jokes about key difference with Kimi Antonelli at 20: “He speaks Italian!”
Latest news
F1 Brazilian GP: Kimi Antonelli fastest in tricky FP2
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
7 min
F1 Brazilian GP: Kimi Antonelli fastest in tricky FP2
Building new Fontana short track "will be a real challenge," says Steve O'Donnell
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
8 min
Building new Fontana short track "will be a real challenge," says Steve O'Donnell
Pecco Bagnaia 'feels like a factory rider again' as he finds form in Qatar
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
17 min
Pecco Bagnaia 'feels like a factory rider again' as he finds form in Qatar
NASCAR CEO likes what Carson Hocevar “brings to the fan base,” but says on-track work remains
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
19 min
NASCAR CEO likes what Carson Hocevar “brings to the fan base,” but says on-track work remains
Feature
Discover prime content
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Formula 1
By Pat Symonds
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
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