'He was against it': Helmut Marko reveals 'crazy' Max Verstappen truth 10 years since fairytale maiden F1 win
Christian Horner didn't want to promote Max Verstappen into the senior Red Bull team four races into the 2016 season, former supremo Helmut Marko has claimed.
On the 10-year anniversary of Verstappen's fairytale victory on debut for Red Bull at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, Marko revealed the then-team principal thought the 18-year-old Verstappen was still too young and wasn't ready for the pressures of the senior team.
Verstappen was in just his second full season of F1, having made his debut for Toro Rosso in 2015.
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In a column for renowned Dutch publication De Telegraaf, Marko said the disappointing form of incumbent Daniil Kvyat – including two clumsy incidents with Sebastian Vettel at the previous race in Russia – forced their hand.
It's been 10 years since Max Verstappen's fairytale win on debut for Red Bull at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. LAT Images
"Kvyat crashed twice in that race (Russian Grand Prix). The previous year, he had a decent performance and was even sometimes faster than Ricciardo, especially in the rain," he said.
"But in 2016, he wasn't the same driver and complained about the brakes from the first day of testing. It was clear we had to do something.
"Max's teammate, Carlos Sainz, was very disappointed that we hadn't chosen him. But for us, it was a clear and simple decision.
"Team principal Christian Horner didn't agree with promoting Max after only four races in 2016; he was against it. Likewise, many rivals and critics put a lot of pressure on me, saying that Max was still too young and that it was a risky decision."
Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg crashed out on the opening lap. LAT Images
Verstappen qualified fourth, behind the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg and teammate Daniel Ricciardo.
The Mercedes pair famously took each other out on the opening lap, which opened the door for Ricciardo and Verstappen to swoop through and move into the lead.
Ahead of the second pitstop cycle, Red Bull opted to switch Verstappen to an alternate strategy, which meant he would stop only twice, while Ricciardo would stop three times, but have softer and faster tyres.
Ferrari opted to put Kimi Räikkönen on the same strategy, while leaving Vettel on the preferred strategy with Ricciardo.
Verstappen drove out of his skin to hold off Kimi Räikkönen . LAT Images
But as the race panned out, Verstappen and Räikkönen at the front were able to maintain their advantage, and the Dutchman became the youngest ever to win an F1 race.
Marko said Verstappen's performance under immense pressure shocked all in the Red Bull garage.
"Although Kimi was faster on the straights, he couldn't overtake Max because he drove with so much intelligence and maturity," he said.
"Not even (father) Jos or Max's manager, Raymond Vermeulen, could believe it.
Daniel Ricciardo congratulating his young teammate after they posed for a team photo. LAT Images
"For me personally, and also for (Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz), it was a huge relief. People thought we were crazy, but now we could shut all the critics up.
"It was great for Red Bull as a brand: a fresh, young face as a representative figure. Mentally, Max was much older than eighteen."
Verstappen has since gone on to win four world championships and is rated as one of the most naturally gifted to ever drive a grand prix car.
Verstappen is in action this weekend - but not in F1 - driving in the legendary Nurburgring 24hr.
