Helmut Marko believes that such is his superiority, Max Verstappen would have won the Canadian Grand Prix even if he hadn't been in the Red Bull.

While the three-time world champion prevailed in the ever changing conditions, there remained a number of 'what ifs', not least the failure to pit Lando Norris immediately after the Safety Car or the needless mistakes by George Russell.

Asked if his driver would have won, even if driving the McLaren or Mercedes, Marko told Austria's OE24: "Yes!

"Only Max has the race overview and the confidence to step on the gas when necessary," he added. "Apart from that, our team adopted absolutely the right strategy."

While Canada proved that McLaren can take the fight to Red Bull on a regular basis, it also finally saw Mercedes enter the frame.

On the other hand, Ferrari, on a roll after Monaco and which was expected to dominate in Montreal, had a nightmare weekend, with neither driver seeing the chequered flag.

Nonetheless, the pendulum swing in recent races suggests that the walkover everyone was expecting from Verstappen and his team is unlikely to happen as McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes ramp up the pressure.

"It won't be a clear-cut story because our car and our simulator have certain weaknesses," said Marko. "But we are working hard to rectify this.

"We've always realised that we won't win every race," he added. "It's good for us that the others can't get any consistency. If everything goes normally for us, Max will be ahead in the race."

Also of concern to the Austrian is the grid penalty handed to Sergio Perez for driving his car in an unsafe condition, after dislodging his rear wing when he hit the barriers.

Not wanting to risk Verstappen's lead with a Safety Car, the team ordered the Mexican to return to the pits rather than abandon his car out on track.

"We're not going to discuss it anymore," said Marko, "we'll get over the three-place demotion.

"At the time, we didn't know how serious the damage was," he added. "We couldn't see it with the camera angle we had available and we wanted Checo to continue, because anything was possible in this race. And you never know how much debris will fly off.

"Others have driven around with more parts hanging off," he insisted. "Lewis Hamilton won once at Silverstone on three wheels," he added, referring to the 2020 British Grand Prix.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by KKK, 13/06/2024 13:34

"If you put the Pope in the Red Bull he would win with it ! And that's without any help from him above !"

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2. Posted by JamesD, 12/06/2024 20:03

"Helmut, please - give it a rest. Surely you have better things to do than spout such nonsense. Who do you think you are - Jacques Villeneuve ?!"

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3. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 12/06/2024 14:27

"In Marko’s hypothesis, who would have been in the Red Bull? A clone of Verstappen in that Red Bull wouldn’t have been beaten by the ‘other’ Max in the McLaren or the Mercedes, that’s for sure. "

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4. Posted by KKK, 12/06/2024 14:16

"I'd be careful what you say Mr Marko. Max might just think the same and jump ship!"

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5. Posted by Spindoctor, 12/06/2024 13:45

"Max won in a faster car & with better strategy.
Playing "what if" or "maybe" is great fun, but ultimately pointless. McLaren would have made the same strategy call with Max on board & the Mercedes was not all that fast in race trim, until towards the end.

This is classic RBR\Marko nonsense. "

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Max would have won in Montreal in a McLaren or Mercedes

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