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Marko lines up ‘Verstappen successor’…despite not working at Red Bull
Former motorsport advisor Helmut Marko of Red Bull has acknowledged his focus on identifying young talent as potential successors to Max Verstappen in Formula 1, when Verstappen decides to retire. Verstappen, a four-time champion with Red Bull under the Dutch flag, was discovered by Marko as a promising young racer and recruited into Red Bull’s junior driver program.
Marko retired from his role as motorsport advisor at the end of 2025 but remains active in scouting new talents. In a recent Viaplay documentary, Marko praised Dutch racer Rocco Coronel, suggesting he could follow in Verstappen’s footsteps.
Coronel, son of touring car and Dakar star Tom Coronel, joined the Red Bull Junior Team at the age of 13, showing promising skills during evaluations overseen by Marko. Marko expressed confidence in Coronel’s abilities and hinted at a potential future succession to Verstappen.
Despite Marko’s endorsement, Coronel is aware of the challenges ahead in climbing the motorsport ladder and proving himself in higher series. Nevertheless, with Marko’s support and guidance, Coronel is set to compete full-time in the Spanish Formula 4 category in 2026 as he continues to pursue his racing dreams.
