Winner on the track, fighter off it
2024 has once again started in a triumphant manner for Max Verstappen. The Dutchman won two victories in the first two races, starting a ride that according to all the experts will easily lead him to his fourth consecutive world title. However, between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Verstappen managed the difficult task of making himself talked about more for what he did (and said) off the track than for the results obtained on the track. His clear stance in favor of Helmut Marko in the very thorny issue of the internal war in the Red Bull garage – which pits Marko against team principal Christian Horner – it has in fact caused a lot of noise.
In defense of Marko
The 26-year-old made extensive use of political jargon when it came to speaking in favor of Horner following the team's internal investigation, while he was blunt when the possibility of his mentor's departure from the team arose. His statements – “Without him in the team, I think there will be a problem, even for myself.” – contributed to strengthening Marko's position in the team but also to fuel rumors about his possible transfer to Mercedes at the end of this season, should the battle for control of the team be won by Horner.
Like Schumacher in 1996
Verstappen's behavior brought to mind – although the surrounding circumstances are very different – what he did Michael Schumacher in 1996, during his first year as a Ferrari driver. After a disastrous summer for Cavallino in terms of results obtained, Schumacher vigorously defended his 'boss' – Jean Todt – in front of Italian journalistswho called for a dismissal: “If they send Todt away, I'll go too” said the future seven-time world champion, thus guaranteeing Todt's permanence and the birth of that working group that would later become unbeatable a few years later. Verstappen is in a different dynamic environmentally, but in the same way he wasn't afraid to put himself and his role on the line to protect a piece that he believes is crucial to his own and the team's successes. We'll see if he'll come out on top in this case too.
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