Ralf Schumacher stepped up to support Racing Bulls’ newcomer, Isack Hadjar, after cameras captured the young driver wiping away tears. The emotional moment came following his unfortunate crash on the formation lap at the Australian Grand Prix, which marked Hadjar’s anticipated Formula 1 debut that ended before it even began. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, was quick to call the incident “a bit embarrassing.”
Schumacher, who once navigated the high-pressure world of F1 himself and now shares his insights as a Sky Sports Germany pundit, believes the mounting stress faced by rookies, especially with an unyielding figure like Marko overseeing their progress, can be overwhelming. “I’m not sure I’d have reacted with tears, but it certainly impacts a young driver,” Schumacher remarked in a video on Formel.de. “Your debut race, everything’s going great, and then to have it fall apart… that’s tough. Add to it the fear of facing Dr. Marko’s criticism at Red Bull,” he continued.
Schumacher didn’t hold back in questioning Marko’s seemingly cold response. “Honestly, what’s so embarrassing about shedding a tear? We know Helmut, though, and he likely didn’t mean it harshly.”
For Schumacher, a former Williams and Toyota driver, Marko’s sharp words seem to shed more light on the demanding environment cultivated by Red Bull’s advisor, arguably pushing Hadjar to his limits.
The discussion around Marko’s approach didn’t stop there. Martin Brundle, another ex-F1 driver turned pundit, also voiced concerns over Marko’s harsh assessments of today’s rookies. During a show on Red Bull’s Servus TV, Marko publicly shared his critiques, notably slamming Alpine’s Jack Doohan with a ‘C’ grade and predicting he “won’t complete the season.”
Marko’s skepticism wasn’t reserved for Doohan alone. He also downplayed Sauber’s promising star, Gabriel Bortoleto, giving him a ‘B’ despite Bortoleto clinching consecutive Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles. Brundle, however, didn’t buy into Marko’s blunt evaluations.
“Looking at Bortoleto, he seems quite mature, especially after his success in F3 and F2,” Brundle commented on Sky F1, drawing parallels with legendary drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. “This young Brazilian could well be a star in the making, and he’s hit the ground running.”
When someone pointed out Bortoleto’s strong debut was “not bad for a B-class driver, as Dr. Helmut Marko described,” Brundle responded with a succinct, “Yeah, exactly.” Brundle further noted, “Dr. Helmut Marko should perhaps focus more on his own drivers than passing judgement on others.”
Is it time for a reality check? Marko’s tough-love approach has become synonymous with his name. Yet, both Schumacher and Brundle seem to agree on one point: instead of speaking out against burgeoning talent, it might be wise for Red Bull’s senior advisor to ease up a bit, giving rookies the breathing room they need to shine.
As the 2025 season unfolds, the spotlight remains on whether Hadjar, Doohan, or Bortoleto will overcome the critique to make their mark, or if the relentless standards set by Marko will continue to be the defining theme. To keep tabs on the latest in F1 news, follow us on X and Facebook.
