Helmut Marko reveals the main ‘difference’ between Max Verstappen and all of his Red Bull teammates

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Max Verstappen has been in a league of his own within the Red Bull ranks, and Helmut Marko has revealed why the four-time world champion is always a step ahead of his teammates.

The case of the second seat at Red Bull has been a curious one for many years now. No one seems cut out to be able to get the better of Max Verstappen over the course of a full Formula 1 season since Daniel Ricciardo in 2017.

This season is no different, and the gap between the Dutchman and current teammate Yuki Tsunoda is a startling one.

Still within half a chance of clinching a fifth consecutive world title, Verstappen is currently 313 points ahead of the Japanese driver, the biggest difference between two teammates on the whole grid.

Red Bull have suffered in the constructors’ standings because of it. Tsunoda has contributed to just 7% of their points, leaving it up to the 28-year-old to try and clinch second place on his own.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen is ‘certain’ of what he wants from his next Red Bull F1 teammate in 2026

Helmut Marko reveals the ‘difference’ between Max Verstappen and his Red Bull teammates

In a recent appearance on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Red Bull special advisor Helmut Marko fielded a question regarding Verstappen’s sheer dominance over whoever fills the seat in the garage next door to him.

The Austrian recalled the difference in the telemetry between the Dutchman and former teammate Sergio Perez, saying, “His feel and car control are what make a difference.

“We had the car, which was very loose in the rear. Checo was lifting, and if you ask Max, he said, maybe it’s a little bit unstable, but he was still on full throttle.”

The conspiracy that Verstappen has had superior machinery to his teammates has been a topic for debate since the start of Red Bull’s second seat woes, which began with the exit of Ricciardo at the end of 2018.

Jos Verstappen branded Sergio Perez’s father an ‘idiot’ for suggesting that Red Bull were giving Max a more capable F1 car to perform than the piece of kit that the Mexican was given.

However, Perez Sr’s comments may have some basis. Red Bull have admitted that Tsunoda has had ‘unequal machinery’ to Verstappen since joining the team during the opening stages of the season.

What’s more, Red Bull mechanics are also ‘oriented’ around servicing the Dutchman first within the Austrian constructor’s garages on race weekends, which has led to an even bigger disadvantage for the 25-year-old.

READ MORE: George Russell warns Max Verstappen he’d face ‘a lose-lose situation’ if they became Mercedes teammates

Max Verstappen is still in with a shot of winning the 2025 F1 title

Verstappen has proved that he is arguably the best driver on the grid yet again this season, through his determination to get back into the 2025 F1 title fight despite starting the season off on the wrong foot.

The Dutchman’s resurgence since the recommencement of racing after the summer break has been mightily impressive, with the work that Red Bull has done behind the scenes aiding his quest for a fifth successive championship.

However, he does still sit 49 points behind the championship leader, Lando Norris, and with just three rounds remaining, it’s quite the cliff to scale.

Red Bull have one more upgrade planned for the RB21, which coincides with one of the weaker circuits on the F1 calendar for McLaren.

It is crucial for Verstappen to stand on the top step of the podium in Las Vegas in order for him to keep his championship hopes alive.