P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has found the potential successor to Max Verstappen within the Milton Keynes-based Formula 1 squad’s Junior Programme, 13-year-old Dutchman Rocco Coronel.
Marko recognized Verstappen’s potential as a future F1 star and placed him in Toro Rosso at 17 in 2015. Now, nine years later, Verstappen is contending for his fourth straight F1 Drivers’ title. Rocco Coronel, son of Dutch racer Tom, has caught Marko’s attention and has joined the Red Bull Junior Programme at just 13. Marko sees similarities between Coronel and Verstappen in terms of temperament and upbringing by their fathers. Verstappen’s F1 future is uncertain, leading Marko to view Coronel as a potential successor if Verstappen were to retire. At only 13, Coronel impressed with his performance in a Formula 4 and Formula 3 car during a Red Bull test, showcasing his potential as a young driver.
