Like so many drivers who reach the pinnacle of Formula 1, Max Verstappen’s rise hasn’t been short of controversy.
Max Verstappen is now a triple-world champion but needed one of the most controversial moments in the sport’s history to grapple away an eighth title from Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi in 2021.
Since that victory, Verstappen has had a much more comfortable time at the front of the grid and after securing titles number two and three in 2022 and 2023, he’s well on his way to earning a fourth championship this year.
Verstappen’s path to Formula 1 was rapid and the sport introduced a rule after his debut with Toro Rosso to deny any driver under the age of 18 a spot on the grid.
The prospect of Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli reaching F1 forced that rule to be adapted recently and there are potential parallels to be made when it comes to their development.
Red Bull chief Helmut Marko was in charge of Verstappen’s development and has spoken to Grand Prix 247 about the reaction from some people around F1 when the Dutch driver was testing in Formula 1 as a youngster.
Before Verstappen made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2015 as a 17-year-old, he had already been driving F1 cars in practice sessions.
Marko believes it was a session at Suzuka that finally convinced those who thought he was too young to be competing that he was a talent worthy of a place on the grid.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Helmut Marko on Red Bull being accused of being ‘criminals’ during Max Verstappen’s development
Speaking about Verstappen’s journey before F1, Marko said: “There was some criticism but I said okay, we feel we set out to make stars not to buy stars.
“You know that was his philosophy about and we knew we had with Franz Tost a very experienced team principal. He prepared a program for Max [Verstappen] yet. At that time testing was easier.
“Then came the day when we put Max on a Friday drive at Suzuka, one of the fastest and most difficult circuits we have in the whole F1 calendar.
“Some of our critics thought we were criminals. Max got in the car and went flat R130 at Suzuka, the flat-out one after only four laps or so. He did a very competitive time and didn’t do anything wrong. And then from there on, the critics didn’t stop, but it was much less.
“And then of course in the first year, there had been some mistakes he made. He also made one crazy move.
“He overtook, like, I don’t know whom, but the on the outside of Blanchemont [Spa-Francorchamps] that’s a really fast corner. So, I said don’t do that again because that’s something which is it’s, it’s just too dangerous.”
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links
Max Verstappen stepped up after impressive Red Bull test
Verstappen had won numerous karting titles as a youngster before making his single-seater debut in Formula 3 in 2014.
He finished third that year behind Alpine driver Esteban Ocon and Tom Blomqvist but was already set up for success by Red Bull.
The Dutchman became the youngest person ever to take part in a Grand Prix weekend but that 2014 Japanese Grand Prix practice session, having only turned 17 years old that week.
He should have scored points on his full F1 debut in Australia the following year but suffered an engine failure while running in the top ten.
Within 18 months, Verstappen had already earned a promotion to the senior Red Bull team and won on debut in Spain thanks to both Mercedes drivers taking each other out on the opening lap.
The rest is history and Verstappen quickly dismissed the concerns of his critics with his performances at Toro Rosso.
While many would still argue that the Dutchman still has things to learn on the track, with Verstappen’s clash with Lando Norris a key talking point from his year’s race in Austria, it’s impossible to deny his outright pace.
Damon Hill has suggested that Verstappen’s pole position lap at the Red Bull Ring was utterly mindblowing and there’s little reason to think he might not do that again in Hungary.
The post Helmut Marko shares why some critics thought Red Bull were ‘criminals’ during Max Verstappen development appeared first on F1 Oversteer.