Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko on Sergio Perez

Max can pilot any car quickly. That’s why Sergio Perez is the perfect partner for him. Checo doesn’t try to fight, but he does his best. In Baku last season that led to victory. The drivers work very well together,” Marco told Red Bulletin.

Marco compared Verstappen to former Toro Rosso teammate Carlos Sainz, now playing for Ferrari – the Spaniard never got his chance at Red Bull:

Some people thought Carlos was underrated, a protest went up. He has also been improving very nicely, the difference between the pilots was often minimal. Despite less experience, Max was faster, so he was transferred to the Red Bull. Carlos was just unlucky to be Max’s teammate.

He (Max) is a very good driver and a very tough person – that comes from his father [Jos Verstappen]. In Italy, you can go karting all year long. When it started to rain, everyone moved to the café. Only Max stayed on track and kept training.

After Max raced his first race in F1 at the age of 17, they banned him from racing until he was 18. I think the age limit is the wrong decision. If you are talented and properly trained, you can perform at least at 16.

In terms of character, determination, confidence and charisma, I would compare him to Ayrton Senna.