Red Bull’s notorious senior advisor, Helmut Marko, has once again placed a Red Bull driver under scrutiny for failing to meet expectations. Known for his candid opinions, Marko and the team have proven their willingness to make tough decisions when necessary.
While Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon are often cited as examples of drivers who fell short at Red Bull, there are numerous others who never even make it to Formula 1. Marko oversees Red Bull’s driver program and keeps a close eye on aspiring talents across various racing competitions.
“When we decide to support a driver, there’s always a second season,” Marko explained during an interview on the Inside Line F1 podcast. “I watch the races, and in Milton Keynes, we have Guillaume Rocquelin, known as Rocky, who meticulously analyzes data from our database.”
Marko expects each driver to submit a race report, but he admits that sometimes their accounts differ from his own observations. He receives reports from the teams as well, allowing him to gather multiple perspectives before drawing conclusions.
Marko recounted an incident involving F2 driver Dennis Hauger during the race in Baku. Hauger was leading the race when a major crash occurred between the second and third-place contenders. Confused about Hauger’s position, Marko realized that the young driver was so far ahead that it wasn’t visible on television.
However, despite his promising performance, Hauger ultimately dropped to sixth place. Marko admitted that Hauger’s current performance was “not enough” and had engaged in personal discussions to convey this message.
“At some point, you have to decide whether to continue or not,” Marko added, highlighting the importance of consistent performance and meeting expectations.
In addition to on-track data analysis, Marko has implemented a unique method to test the young prospects. He has developed a simulator qualifying lap, humorously named the “Helmut Lap,” which serves as a pressure-filled simulation to assess a driver’s ability to perform under qualifying conditions.
“Qualifying is incredibly important,” Marko emphasized. “So, in our simulator, we have a qualifying simulation. We now call it the Helmut Lap, which consists of just one lap. Previously, it was four laps, but that wasn’t sufficient. Through these simulation tools, we aim to familiarize drivers with the pressure they will face.”
Helmut Marko’s unyielding approach to evaluating and nurturing young talent within the Red Bull program ensures that only the most capable and mentally resilient drivers progress through the ranks. Aspiring drivers understand that they must consistently deliver exceptional performances and demonstrate their ability to handle the intense pressure that comes with representing the Red Bull Racing team.
