Marko: Only Red Bull or Mercedes Can Deliver F1 Titles
Helmut Marko says drivers must be in a Red Bull or Mercedes to win the Formula One championship, as speculation about Lewis Hamilton’s future continues.
Helmut Marko has dismissed the idea that Lewis Hamilton could simply walk into Red Bull and win a Formula One title, insisting that only drivers at Mercedes or Red Bull have a realistic shot at the championship over the next three years.
Marko, who oversees Red Bull’s driver programme, argued that with Renault’s improved power unit and the team’s strong chassis, Red Bull has the tools to fight for championships. He stated that a driver needs to be in either a Mercedes or a Red Bull if they want to win the world championship in the next three years. This comes as Red Bull’s resurgence has seen them overtake Ferrari as Mercedes’ main challenger during the 2016 season.
Red Bull’s current pairing of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen has drawn praise from former F1 driver Gerhard Berger, who called it the best line-up in Formula One, either already or by next season. Marko himself is credited as the architect of the team’s driver strategy, and he echoed Berger’s view, suggesting that Red Bull’s focus is on building a team around its current talent rather than seeking star names from outside.
Hamilton’s prospects at Red Bull questioned
While Hamilton continues to win races for Mercedes, Marko’s comments make clear that Red Bull’s management does not see a place for him in their team. The implication is that even a driver of Hamilton’s calibre would not be the deciding factor: the car and the team’s technical package remain paramount. Red Bull’s goal for 2016 is to secure second in the constructors’ championship, win more races, and mount a full title challenge in 2017.
As the championship resumes after the summer break, Red Bull’s confidence in its line-up and technical progress appears to rule out any major driver changes. Marko’s remarks underline the team’s commitment to Ricciardo and Verstappen, and suggest that Hamilton, despite his achievements, is unlikely to find a seat at Red Bull.
For more on Red Bull’s driver strategy, seeMarko signals Red Bull F1 seat for Verstappen in 2017
