Marko praises Verstappen's GT3 victory, envisions 'greatest F1 comeback'.

      "Should Max manage to turn it around"

      Dr. Helmut Marko stated that Max Verstappen’s remarkable GT3 win at the Nurburgring demonstrates why the Dutch driver is still capable of achieving "the greatest comeback of all time" in Formula 1 this year. Verstappen amazed fans by securing victory on his GT3 debut at the challenging Nordschleife in a Ferrari 296 GT3, with Red Bull advisor Marko admitting he joined millions to watch the live stream.

      "It’s incredible what Max accomplished," he told Osterreich. "Just the start and the first corner, the way he passed the two cars in front of him - that was quintessential Verstappen. No one else can replicate that. He gave the second driver a minute's advantage. He performs similarly in the Formula 1 car as well."

      Marko, 82, dismissed the idea that Verstappen should concentrate only on F1. "Max is a passionate racing driver who seizes every chance. That’s just his style. In my time, I also raced everything."

      However, Verstappen will not be allowed to compete at Le Mans, although Marko mentioned that more GT3 races could be on the horizon "if the Formula 1 championship permits it." He even suggested the possibility of a father-son entry after F1: "Jos keeps fit through rallying. He’s very quick there. I can easily picture that happening when Max retires," the Austrian remarked.

      For the moment, Verstappen’s attention shifts back to Singapore, where he is 69 points behind Oscar Piastri in the championship. "The victory in Baku has rekindled hope," Marko noted. "If Max can turn it around, it would be the greatest comeback of all time."

      Red Bull's technical head, Pierre Wache, told Auto Motor und Sport that the team will not abandon their quest, even as others intensify their focus on the 2026 regulations. "If we see a chance to win a world championship and further development is necessary, we will pursue it. We won’t relinquish anything," the Frenchman stated.