Helmut Marko says Max Verstappen is less ‘intellectual’ than Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull

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Max Verstappen missed an opportunity to win his fifth Formula 1 world championship in Abu Dhabi last weekend. Verstappen ultimately missed out to Lando Norris by just two points, the smallest margin under the current points system.

Verstappen remains tied with Sebastian Vettel on four titles. All eight of their championships were, of course, won in Red Bull colours.

Vettel made 113 appearances for Red Bull, but Verstappen is already up to 210. He will double the German’s tally in the early part of the 2026 season.

Indeed, Verstappen’s pyrrhic victory in Abu Dhabi was his 71st for the Milton Keynes outfit. Only Lewis Hamilton (84 with Mercedes) and Michael Schumacher (72 with Ferrari) have won more races with a single team.

Sebastian Vettel was ‘technically minded’, Max Verstappen is a ‘natural’ driver

In an interview with F1-Insider, departing Red Bull executive Helmut Marko was asked to compare Vettel and Verstappen. He is the man credited with signing the flagship academy products.

Marko explained that Vettel was more ‘technically minded’ and detail-oriented. Verstappen doesn’t need to hone a car to the same extent because of his immense ‘natural’ talent.

Vettel retired at the end of the 2022 season, while Verstappen continues to get better at the age of 28. Even though he didn’t win the title this year, it was arguably his most complete season yet.

Is the greatest season EVER from a runner-up?

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“Both are exceptional drivers,” Marko said. “Both are personalities, but they have different interests.

“Sebastian was very technically minded with his engineer. He studied the data to the last detail and analytically extracted every last bit of performance from the car.

“Max is more of a natural driver. In the early years, he just put his foot down and went full throttle.

“Max doesn’t need a warm-up phase. You can see that when it rains somewhere. Driving out, he’s one, two, three seconds faster than the rest for the first two laps until the others adapt.

“Sebastian was, I would say, the more intellectual one, the one who worked on the car and with the engineers until everything fit together, then he struck. Both top drivers, and the development of Max is continuing.”

Will Sebastian Vettel replace Helmut Marko at Red Bull?

Marko’s departure from Red Bull has reignited rumours that Vettel could take on his role at Red Bull.

Vettel has hovered on the periphery of motorsport since his retirement, only appearing at races to promote charitable initiatives.

While many see him as a perfect mentor for young drivers, Red Bull have decided they won’t replace Marko directly as part of their reshuffle.

Red Bull sports boss Oliver Mintzlaff will be more hands-on with the F1 team, while team principal Laurent Mekies is expected to gain greater influence.