Marko: Hamilton no match for Verstappen, even with better car

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Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has never been one to hold back, and his latest prediction is as bold as ever: Max Verstappen will beat Lewis Hamilton in 2025 – even if Ferrari provides the Briton with a batter car.

As Hamilton embarks on his much-hyped debut season with the Scuderia, fulfilling a lifelong dream of donning red, Marko is dismissive of any scenario in which Verstappen isn’t still the king of Formula 1 at the end of the upcoming season.

Speaking to Sport Bild, the Austrian outlined his confidence: "Even if he has a good Ferrari and we build a mediocre Red Bull for Max, I would put my money on Max.”

No Driver Compares to Max

Marko nevertheless acknowledged the impressive performances of McLaren and Ferrari in 2024.

“The two race teams had the best base for their cars last season and were able to perform well on most circuits." However, he dismissed their driver line-ups as lacking the same bite as Verstappen.

Read also: Marko reflects on his ‘biggest mistake’ in F1 driver choices

"Charles Leclerc is good in qualifying but makes a lot of mistakes in the races," Marko declared, characteristically blunt.

"And Lewis Hamilton still has the speed, but can he keep that up for a whole season? I have my doubts about that."

Marko's confidence in Verstappen is unshakeable.

"Max is not only the fastest, but the best in Formula 1 from the overall package," he stated. "He gets 0.1 to 0.2 seconds out of the car per lap that no other driver finds."

Need for Improvement at Red Bull

The 81-year-old at least acknowledged the need for improvement within Red Bull Racing, recognizing that the RB20, while successful, was ultimately outmatched by McLaren's MCL38 in certain areas last season.

"Now it’s up to us to build him a car that lets him not only temporarily, but constantly drive for victories," Marko said. "Our working window has to get bigger."

Verstappen's relentless pursuit of excellence and his enduring determination to win will undoubtedly make him a formidable opponent.

But Ferrari – and certainly McLaren – will undoubtedly both be a force to be reckoned with in 2025.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.