{"id":33852,"date":"2024-01-20T17:27:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-20T17:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/formula1news.co.uk\/?p=33852"},"modified":"2024-01-20T09:53:08","modified_gmt":"2024-01-20T09:53:08","slug":"helmut-marko-brushes-off-lando-norris-and-charles-leclerc-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/formula1news.co.uk\/helmut-marko-brushes-off-lando-norris-and-charles-leclerc-threat\/","title":{"rendered":"Helmut Marko brushes off Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc threat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has brushed off suggestions that Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc are Max Verstappen’s biggest threat, with the Austrian admitting that both drivers have “weaknesses”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The point of Norris and Leclerc competing with Verstappen was raised by ex-Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan, who revealed that if he owned a team today and couldn’t sign Verstappen, then he’d want Leclerc alongside Norris. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jordan thinks the Ferrari driver is Verstappen’s “one challenger”, with the Irishman not being able to “trust” Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to “keep up” with the reigning World Champion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hamilton and Alonso have nine titles between them; however, they also have a combined age of 81 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When you compare that to Leclerc’s and Norris’ combined age of 50, it certainly suggests that perhaps Hamilton and Alonso are past their prime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst the two veterans are still exceptional drivers and can compete for victories if given the right car, they aren’t going to become better drivers, realistically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike Norris and Leclerc, who are more likely to further improve, because they are in their mid-20s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I only see one challenger for Max and that is Charles Leclerc,’ Jordan told Auto Bild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“If I had a top team now and didn’t get Max, there would only be one driver pairing that would be able to take on the fight with Verstappen – Leclerc and, as a teammate, Lando Norris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I simply no longer trust Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, although they are well-deserved champions, to be able to keep up with Verstappen because of their age,” Jordan added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marko accepts that both Leclerc and Norris are “exceptional talents”, but he believes that “consistency” is their weakness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leclerc in particular was very inconsistent in 2023, whereas Norris struggled in the first half of last season before thriving from the Austrian Grand Prix onwards, when McLaren introduced a huge upgrade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Red Bull advisor sees no reason to fear either driver because he’s confident Verstappen “will get even better”, given that he is the same age as Leclerc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Christian Horner fires huge Adrian Newey warning https:\/\/t.co\/H2QRFu0ECn<\/a><\/p>— Formula1News.co.uk (@Formula1newsUK) January 11, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>