RED BULL star Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to F1 glory in 2021.
Red Bull chief Helmut Marko has admitted he and the team fear Max Verstappen quitting the sport early because of the intense nature of his rivalry with Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen beat his rival to F1 glory at the end of last year in controversial circumstances. Yet it appears he’s been left exhausted following his exploits on the grid last term.
Hamilton and Verstappen regularly clashed over the course of the Formula One season.
Yet it was the Red Bull star who had the last laugh, winning the title on the final lap of the season in controversial circumstances.
Right now, the F1 world is waiting to see what happens with Hamilton.
The Stevenage-born racer’s future in the sport is currently up in the air, with Mercedes sweating on his involvement as the new season creeps closer.
But Marko has now admitted Red Bull fear Verstappen potentially shortening his career because of his fierce rivalry with Hamilton.
“And you are also much more susceptible to the flu.
“Thank God some people only got the coronavirus after Abu Dhabi [team principal Christian Horner amongst them]. That was good timing.
“And Max also said that he couldn’t stand such an intensity anymore.
“He still wants to drive for a while, but if that’s the case every year, then it [his career] is limited.”
Marko’s comments come just days after he’d expressed a belief that Verstappen would never join Mercedes.
The Red Bull chief said earlier in the week: “I do not think that Max will leave us then.
“The events at Silverstone have left too big a crack, especially with Jos.
“I think that makes him less likely to switch sides.”
Red Bull boss Christian Horner, meanwhile, think Hamilton and Verstappen’s ferocious desire to win enhanced F1 as a whole last year.
Speaking to Wion the Red Bull boss said: “I think sport is all about competition.
“And when you’ve got serial winners it becomes less attractive.
“So I think the fact that there was a big rivalry between the teams [Red Bull and Mercedes] between the two drivers [Verstappen and Hamilton], every Grand Prix there was very little to choose between the two of them.
“It was a fantastic year.
“It was the best year I think Formula 1 has had as a sport for probably 30 or 40 years.”
Given Hamilton poses the biggest threat to Verstappen, Red Bull can be forgiven for hoping the Brit quits F1.
F1 news: Red Bull chief Helmut Marko has opened up on Max Verstappen (Image: GETTY)
Yet Horner recently made it clear that wasn’t the case and insisted the Mercedes driver should continue racing.
He added: “I certainly hope Lewis will be around this year. He’s still driving at an incredible level.
“The two drivers last year were in a league of their own.
“But ultimately it is his choice. It’s his career, it’s his decision so I’m sure he will decide to do what’s best for him, or what he wants to do and that is none of our business.”
The new F1 season is due to begin next month.
The first race of the season is in Bahrain on Sunday March 20, though the first practice session takes place two days before on March 18.
