Marko: Verstappen is the most popular driver on the grid worldwide

Helmut Marko knows that he, on behalf of Red Bull, landed themselves a special driver when they signed on Max Verstappen a couple of years ago and fast tracked him (over their Junior Team candidates) into Formula 1 with Toro Rosso.

Speaking ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, Marko said, “Max is a different calibre. He has the traits of a future world champion and he is just doing what is necessary to get there."

The Austrian defended his driver amid recent controversial on track moves during the Belgian Grand Prix,, which irked the Ferrari camp.

Marko said, “It obviously surprises some that this also involves overtaking and defending. If there had been something gravely wrong the stewards would have penalized him.”

“It is a bit like when Michael Schumacher came in. I remember a race in Hockenheim when there was nearly a fistfight between him and Ayrton Senna – Senna the top dog at this time and Schumacher the new hopeful.”

Verstappen fans are growing with every race, evidence is obvious in the swathes of orange dominate the once (mainly) red grandstands. Marko believes Verstappen's attitude is attractive to race fans.

“We are lacking strong personalities lately,” Marko said. “On top, there are drivers doing their last season so they are complaining about Max, about safety, about anything."

“With Max here is someone who is really young with a strong idea of what he wants, and he is not shy of trying to get it, of trying to be successful.

“And the reaction of the fans plays to his advantage: I would say he is probably now the most popular driver on the grid – worldwide,” ventured Marko.