Known by everyone in the paddock as someone who doesn’t mince words when it comes to giving his opinion, Helmut Marko commented on what he thinks of Fernando Alonso and what goals he can achieve alongside Aston Martin.
In Formula 1, today you are in a team and who knows where you may end up in several years (or even just one). The commonly nicknamed Silly Seasonthe period of time during which the rumors about the change of trading cards circulate without hesitation, is common every season, with the summer and winter breaks as the greatest exponents of it.
There is no doubt that, after the announcement of Sebastian Vettel’s definitive goodbye to Formula 1 after 17 years enrolled in the premier category of motorsport, followed a few days after the announcement of Fernando Alonso’s departure to an Aston Martin that he needed an experienced pilot to lay the foundations for your projectThey have lit the fuse.
“It’s very fast; the surprise of the year»
The forced vacations of pilots and teams have begun with a tidal wave of transfer news As soon as these start, with denials such as that of Oscar Piastri after Alpine’s statement that he would drive for them in 2023, a maneuver that hides a presumed agreement of the Australian with McLaren (prior departure of Daniel Ricciardo).
totum revolutum
If there is a personality in the paddock who is used to leaving statements without excessively measuring his words, displaying a sincerity, for many, overwhelming, that is Helmut Marko.
The Austrian leader did not hesitate to attack his own pilot before the cameras when he assured, in his style, that Sergio Pérez “was asleep!” when he was preyed upon by George Russell after the jump after the Virtual Safety Car from France, going so far as to hint, between jokes, that he might have had tequila before the race.
Asked about Vettel after the announcement of his dismissal, Marko analyzed the figure of a pilot with whom they were four-time champions from 2010 to 2013. «The meticulousness of Vettel fit perfectly with our DNAeverything was working perfectly, “revealed the head of Red Bull’s young talent program.
In the meantime, he has other priorities, he can’t even get on the podium with his car. So it is logical that draw the consequences. If you don’t put your heart and soul into it, you can’t continue,” he added, focusing on his last two years at Aston Martin.
Next, Marko went on to give his opinion on Alonso, a driver who has left, has returned and is 6 years older than Vettel himself. “He is very fast, the races he does are amazing»He expressed, coming to classify him as «the surprise of the year» according to his opinion.
There were several attempts to sign him between 2008 and 2012, something recognized by Christian Horner in the past, but none of them bore fruit. However, Marko predicts a successful future for him, without rancor, if those commanded by Lawrence Stroll do his job well. “I think as a pilot, can still even win races. The only question is whether Aston Martin can provide you with the right package,” concluded Marko.
Font: Oe24.at