F1 News: Red Bull boss reveals BRUTAL reason for rejecting F1 star

Sergio Perez, Checo Perez, Max Verstappen, Red Bull, China, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

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Red Bull boss reveals BRUTAL reason for rejecting F1 star

Helmut Marko has revealed why did they did not want an F1 champion alongside Max Verstappen.

By Sheona Mountford.

Wednesday 5 June 2024 17:00

Red Bull boss Helmut Marko has revealed the brutal reason for rejecting an F1 champion as Max Verstappen’s team-mate.

Speculation about who will partner Max Verstappen in 2025 ran wild when Carlos Sainz became available on the driver market, after being replaced by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari.

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Current Red Bull driver Sergio Perez was set to be out of contract going into 2025, and a renewal looked unlikely after a string of bad performances last season – but he was officially given a two-year extension this week.

Whilst Perez's form has improved this season, he has failed to make the podium since the Chinese Grand Prix, and finished eighth behind both Mercedes in Imola.

Sergio Perez started the season strong sealing one one-two finishes for Red Bull

In recent races Sergio Perez has fallen drastically behind team-mate Max Verstappen

Who would replace Perez at Red Bull?

When asked if they considered signing the two-time world champion, Red Bull boss Helmut Marko revealed they had, but admitted it would have been ‘difficult’ for him to race alongside Max Verstappen.

“Well, there have been conversations,” Marko said via Formel1.de’s YouTube channel.

“But as I mentioned before, a harmonious work environment is very important to Max and I think that probably would not have been the case with Alonso.

“I think it would be very difficult for a team. Alonso would be the oldest world champion on the team, Max the youngest, and they are generations apart.

Helmut Marko admits it would have been 'difficult' with Alonso at Red Bull

“I don’t think Alonso does sim racing or gets into a simulator on a plane right after a grand prix. So they are two opposite personalities, both very good drivers and also personalities.

"But when it comes to seeing who is faster neither of them are very modest. And it would be very, very difficult for a team to take that in a positive direction.”

Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Mercedes Sergio Perez Carlos Sainz