Dr. Helmut Marko is confident that Max Verstappen will clinch his fourth world championship in 2024.
Ahead of the Brazil Grand Prix, Red Bull was facing a turbulent season marked by car performance struggles, and Verstappen was seeing his points lead narrow as McLaren’s Lando Norris gained ground.
Adding to the tension, Verstappen, his father Jos, and team advisor Marko voiced concerns over what they perceived as a bias favoring British drivers within the media and even FIA officials.
“All that nonsense that was spread, and then this,” Marko said to *De Telegraaf*, following Verstappen’s impressive charge from 17th place on the grid to victory at the Brazilian GP, extending his points lead over Norris to 62 points.
With this win, Verstappen has the chance to secure the drivers’ title at the upcoming race in Las Vegas, with two more races still remaining afterward.
“Max was flying,” commented Marko on Verstappen’s performance at Interlagos. “He was flawless, and you can’t say that about Lando Norris.”
Many observers felt that the Verstappen-Norris rivalry on the track underscored Norris’s inexperience in title battles.
“I don’t think that’s a fair statement about Lando,” countered McLaren team principal Andrea Stella.
Yet, Stella acknowledged that the title fight is virtually decided.
“Honestly, he was already the favorite,” said Stella. “But Lando is right behind and should feel proud of his performance. In the drivers’ championship, there wasn’t any pressure for Lando.”
Reflecting on McLaren’s season, Stella added, “We enjoyed this challenge. You encounter setbacks, but each one is a learning opportunity that makes us stronger.”
He continued, “It’s easy to point to Lando’s braking error, but the real question is why our car responded the way it did. If we don’t win this year, we’ll come back even stronger next year.”
Marko echoed this confidence, suggesting that Sunday’s race was more than a critical step towards the title for Verstappen. “No, I think this is the title,” he said firmly.