Mark Webber Compares Max Verstappen to Marc Marquez, Warns Red Bull of Potential Crisis

Former Red Bull Racing driver, Mark Webber, has raised concerns about the team’s future, drawing parallels between four-time Formula 1 champion, Max Verstappen, and six-time MotoGP champion, Marc Marquez. In an interview on the Formula For Success Podcast, Webber expressed his worry that Red Bull could face similar struggles when Verstappen eventually moves on.

The Controversial Decision by Red Bull Racing

This comes after Red Bull’s controversial decision to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda after just two race weekends. The RB21, it seems, is a challenging car to master, even for the experienced reigning champion and certainly for the New Zealand rookie, Lawson.

Speaking about the team’s predicament, Webber suggested that Red Bull needs to make their car usable for more than just one driver on the planet. He warned that if Liam Lawson were in a similar situation on a Honda, he might have been injured due to his inability to find speed.

The Performance Gap between Verstappen and Lawson

Webber found the performance gap between Verstappen and Lawson “unacceptable.” He noted that Max is essentially carrying the entire car by himself, with no significant contribution from the second driver. Replacing a driver after just two Grands Prix underscores the severity of the situation at Milton Keynes.

Lawson struggled significantly, qualifying 20th at the Chinese race, the lowest a driver from that team has qualified in its 20 years of running. Webber praised Sergio Perez for his performance last year, likening him to a magician due to his ability to extract lap time from the car.

Cadillac’s Interest in Sergio Perez

It’s no surprise that Cadillac is warming to the idea of Sergio Perez leading their team when they enter the grid next year. Like Marquez, Verstappen has demonstrated an uncanny ability to extract performance from his car.

In 2023, Marc Marquez expressed his admiration for Max Verstappen, calling him a “real killer.” He noted that both drivers share a common mentality – a priority for winning. This could explain Cadillac‘s interest in Perez as their lead driver.