Marko: Verstappen in mediocre Red Bull will beat Hamilton in a good Ferrari

The outspoken Red Bull team consultant appears to have reignited a dormant rivalry by suggesting that even in a stronger Ferrari, Hamilton would fall short against Max Verstappen in 2025. Marko drew comparisons between Verstappen and the rest of the grid too.

In a bold statement to Sport Bild the Austrian declared: “Nobody can hold a candle to Max Verstappen. Max is not only the fastest, but in terms of the overall package he is the best in Formula 1.”

The Red Bull driver consultant elaborated on Verstappen’s ability to extract performance: “He gets 0.1 to 0.2 seconds out of the car, per lap, that no other driver can find.” He insisted that neither Hamilton nor McLaren’s Lando Norris would be capable of beating Verstappen under the same conditions.

Marko further fuelled matters by doubting Hamilton’s consistency over an entire season, even if Ferrari were to produce a competitive car: “Hamilton still has the speed, but over a whole season? I have doubts about that.

“Even if he has a good Ferrari and we only build Max a mediocre Red Bull, I would put my money on Max,” Marko declared, dismissing speculation that Hamilton could secure an eighth world title with Ferrari.

Marko also cautioned the Briton against falling into a psychological slump if his partnership with Ferrari does not deliver immediate results: “Hamilton has to be careful that he does not get into a negative spiral like he did at Mercedes if his new start at Ferrari does not go according to his expectations.”

Despite his confidence in Verstappen, Marko acknowledged that Red Bull cannot afford to rest on their laurels. Reflecting on the 2024 season, he noted that Verstappen’s dominance waned in the second half of the year.

While Verstappen secured the 2024 F1 Drivers’ Championship, winning seven of the first ten races, he managed only two victories in the latter half of the season. Meanwhile, McLaren’s resurgence saw them claim the Constructors’ Championship.

Marko stressed: “The new Red Bull must be a better car than the RB20 of last year. If that doesn’t work, then Verstappen would probably no longer be able to compensate for the car’s weaknesses.”

A prolonged decline in performance, Marko warned, could affect Verstappen’s future with the team. Although Verstappen is contracted with Red Bull until 2028, rumours have already linked him to a potential move.

Last year, Mercedes was mentioned as a possible destination, and now Aston Martin are reportedly prepared to 'break the bank' to secure the 27-year-old Dutchman's services. Irrespective of what the future holds, when Max decides to depart RBR he won't be short of choices.

Despite the speculation, Marko remains optimistic: “I am confident that Red Bull will succeed in providing Verstappen with a competitive car in 2025. That’s why he will also be a Red Bull driver in 2026, as a five-time world champion!”

Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, echoed this sentiment but left the door open for change if circumstances demand it: “His goal is still to be able to win races. If he feels that this is no longer possible at Red Bull, a change is not out of the question.”