Red Bull chief's smug reply to Max Verstappen critics as Ayrton Senna verdict proven right

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has fired back at Max Verstappen's critics after the Dutchman equalled Ayrton Senna's record of Grand Prix victories in Canada yesterday. Verstappen made it four straight wins by taking the chequered flag in Montreal ahead of Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, extending his lead at the top of the Drivers' Championship standings to 69 points in the process.

The result saw Verstappen draw level with the late, great Senna in terms of career victories, while it also marked a century of wins for Red Bull since making their F1 debut in 2004. Marko was quick to poke fun at those who once laughed at the notion of Verstappen being on par with Senna, with the 80-year-old having initially made the comparison himself several years back.

"A few years ago, I compared Max to Senna and was ridiculed," Marko told OE24. "Slowly, the know-it-alls from back then are running out of arguments. Max has not only developed tremendously as a driver but also as a personality. The incredible qualifying lap he delivered in Monaco comes close to Senna. Max is the best under all conditions."

Verstappen has previously said that he is not overly concerned about breaking records in F1 but will almost certainly be pleased that he is being mentioned in the same breath as Senna, who is widely regarded as one of the sport's greatest ever competitors.

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It seems as though nothing can stop the Red Bull ace from adding to his growing tally of Grand Prix victories as things stand, with the defending champion simply operating in a league of his own at the front of the pecking order. He will simply be hoping to maintain the current status quo for as long as possible over the coming months as he looks to wrap up his third Drivers' Championship title in as many seasons.

Marko's comments were made after Red Bull team principal Christian Horner insisted that it would not be premature for Verstappen to be considered as one of the best drivers in F1 history, saying: "Part of him inside will be quite proud of that. I don't think he is one to show huge emotion, he is a very modest guy.

"He is very understated in many ways but I think behind the scenes it will mean quite a lot to him. What we're witnessing with Max is the emergence of another mega talent and you can start to talk about him in the same sentence as the greats now. I thought the podium was very apt of the last couple of decades of F1 with Max, Fernando and Lewis up there.

"He just keeps delivering at such a high level. The race he did today was fantastic but for me yesterday was outstanding in conditions that were continually changing. His ability to adapt at all points to the conditions, whatever tyre and grip level he had, was Max at his best."

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