Translation:

During the ServusTV visit, F1 legend Gerhard Berger (64) made people sit up and take notice with a statement about Verstappen’s weakening teammate: “Because there are now ongoing discussions about how long it will take until Red Bull separates from Perez: I say: No , Perez has to move on from Red Bull!”

Berger explains what he means: "It’s like back then with me and Ayrton Senna: I had no other choice. Perez needs a team in which he can grow again. You need a teammate who you can beat so that you can Generate strength. Perez will not be able to do that next to Max Verstappen. He will only become weaker because the mistakes will increase.

oe24: Congratulations to you too on the early World Cup title for Max Verstappen. Did you celebrate on the plane back?

HELMUT MARKO: No, I fell asleep immediately. The heat in Qatar also took its toll on me. But on Monday at 7 a.m. I was back in the office.

oe24: In the ServusTV talk, Gerhard Berger was surprised that the heat was also becoming a real problem for many pilots…

MARKO: That was very refreshing, Gerhard got to the heart of why he didn’t win that much himself.

oe24: According to Berger, the best had fewer problems in Qatar too. Would you agree with that?

MARKO: Absolutely. Max (Verstappen, editor) was still together at the finish. However, he also had the advantage of being able to drive three or four laps leisurely after the pit stops until he got the tires up to temperature. The others probably always had to drive at full capacity.

oe24: Berger also said that it would probably be wisest for Perez if he left Red Bull in his own interest…

MARKO: What do you want to hear from me now?

oe24: But that would be wise advice to Perez, right?

MARKO: Berger knows it from his own experience. He drove in the team with Senna and had to learn that there was someone there who was faster and better.

oe24: Berger also said for the first time that Verstappen is even better than Senna.

MARKO: At first he didn’t share my euphoria about Max - like Mr. Wolff, by the way. When I came up with this comparison, he said: “Now it’s over!”

oe24: Toto Wolff was probably annoyed enough about the crash of the Mercedes drivers while working from home. Now apparently Hamilton is suddenly starting to make mistakes too…

MARKO: Can I please correct that: Now he’s starting to admit mistakes.

oe24: Nevertheless, Hamilton is “only” 30 points behind Perez. Are you afraid that he will challenge you for the 1st and 2nd places you are aiming for in the World Cup?

MARKO: This fear is actually very concrete. Without the crash, Hamilton would have gained 10 or 15 points again.

oe24: You said you wanted to get Perez back to his previous form. How can this work?

MARKO: Checo just has to get the best out of it without looking at Verstappen. We’re trying to help him with that. You see, there is no criticism from the team, only help. Maybe it will work.

oe24: Now we’re off to Austin and then to Mexico, where Perez is celebrated as a national hero.

MARKO: That doesn’t make it any easier for him. In addition, a sprint race in the USA is exactly what he doesn’t need at the moment. That makes it even more difficult for him because he always needs some time to get up to speed. I hope that Austin is a good fit and then it will work again in Mexico.

oe24: What is your relationship with Perez? ** MARKO:** Very good. He supported me massively (after unfortunate statements, the editor), as did Max, who strongly expressed his opinion to a few people. You mustn’t forget: I brought him to Pere’s team back then. But that is simply Verstappen’s fate as he is suffering now. That was already the case with Gasly: ​​after a weak performance at the Red Bull Ring, he was already lapped at the next race in Hungary. Seen this way, Berger’s statement is the right one: he needs a change in climate and team. Now let’s see how the next two races go. But the team and he are aware that he is in a crisis.