Helmut Marko Criticizes F1 Teams for Overlooking Young Talent, Champions Junior Drivers’ Ascension into Formula 1

Helmut Marko criticizes competing F1 teams for their reluctance to embrace young talent

"They obstruct the path for emerging drivers. The teams are also intimidated by the newcomers."

Helmut Marko, advisor for Red Bull F1, has criticized competing teams for their lack of support in promoting new talent.

For more than ten years, Marko has led the young driver program at Red Bull.

He played a pivotal role in introducing Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen to Formula 1, as well as facilitating the entry of drivers such as Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, and Alex Albon into the sport.

In his Speedweek column, Marko voiced his criticism towards competing Formula 1 teams and several active drivers, though he didn't specifically identify anyone.

"Marko mentioned that Oliver Bearman found himself perfectly positioned and as a result, he will ascend to Formula 1 the following year."

"His performance with Ferrari has revealed his potential in Formula 1. However, if one were to examine his outcomes in Formula 2, the perspective might not be as favorable. Nonetheless, it's beneficial for the sport that young drivers are entering Formula 1, and I fully support this."

"Without disclosing any identities, it's observed that certain racers in the competition show little progression, with their performance slightly improving or declining based on their current emotions."

"They obstruct the path for emerging talents behind the wheel. The squads harbor a fear towards the newcomers. It's undeniable they commit errors, yet I prefer an individual who errs yet carries the potential for future success over stagnation and lack of progress."

Regarding Red Bull, Liam Lawson is poised for an opportunity, and Isack Hadjar has made a significant impact in F2.

In the F3 championship, Arvid Lindblad is currently trailing by six points after the most recent race at Silverstone.

Marko announced plans to examine the Red Bull juniors' performance during the summer hiatus.

"Over the summer hiatus, we plan to conduct a thorough review and assessment of how the Red Bull junior drivers have been performing," added Marko.

Hadjar ascended to the top of the F2 rankings following his triumph in the main race at Silverstone. It's important to remember his string of misfortunes, including an engine breakdown, a backup engine malfunction, two instances of fuel delivery issues, and being spun out twice due to factors beyond his control.

Had it not been for certain circumstances, he would have significantly led the championship standings. Lindblad made an impressive mark in Formula 3, transitioning straight from Formula 4 to Formula 3 in his debut season and securing victories in both events. At just 16, it's exciting that he's eligible to compete in Formula 1 by the age of 17.

"However, we're maintaining our composure and still achieving positive outcomes with our younger drivers, who are once again receiving increased focus and have the opportunity to pilot Formula 1 vehicles. Isack performed admirably in his latest test; although he never used the soft tyres, his results were impressive."

Isack and Arvid possess outstanding attributes, demonstrating exceptional speed and performance on par with Formula 1 standards. Equally important to note is Ayumu Iwasa's achievement, who presently holds the runner-up position in Japan's Super Formula series.

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