Helmut Marko knows Sebastian Vettel more than most, after all it was the Red Bull driver consultant who earmarked the German during the early stages of his career and then engineered his promotion to Toro Rosso and finally the energy drinks organisations’ senior team.
Based on what he knows of Vettel, Marko believes that the Ferrari driver will use the summer break to recharge and come back to work stronger and win the title.
The outspoken Austrian was asked who would win the 2017 title, he replied, “I believe in Vettel, because I know his mental strength – and Ferrari has raised its game. Silverstone, I would say, was an exception.”
“Ferrari was clearly the stronger car in the first half of the season and only due to various circumstances could they not materialize all their chances.”
Vettel leads Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton by 14 points with nine races left in the championship, with the momentum shifting like a pendulum between the Reds and the Silver Arrows in recent races.
But Marko is adamant, “What is fact is that [Red Bull] have been 60 points behind before the summer break – and still won the title with him!”
“Seb will use this summer break to come back even stronger. That’s how I know him,” added Marko in reference to the to the seven years that Vettel raced for the Red Bull team – winning the title four years in a row between 2010 and 2013.
Big Question: Will Seb win the 2017 F1 World Championship title?