Helmut Marko states that the technical regulations have become so complex that he has simply given up using a second timing screen during races.
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The 83-year-old Austrian, now retired from his role as advisor at Red Bull Racing, has long been one of the most vocal critics of the new hybrid rules, which place even greater emphasis on energy management and electric deployment.
In an interview with De Telegraaf, Marko acknowledges that even the most experienced observers now struggle to truly understand what is happening during the race.
Second screen useless
“At first, I used two screens, but now I just watch on a single television,” he explained. “Having a second screen with the times no longer really served much purpose, because you can’t know who still has a full battery and who doesn’t.”
According to Marko, the problem is not only the complexity of the regulations themselves, but also the lack of information accessible to the public: “Formula 1 is no longer what it used to be,” he lamented.
The former Austrian executive now hopes that the planned return to simpler engines at the beginning of the next decade will allow the discipline to regain part of its historical DNA: “I hope the V8 engines will return soon.”
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Simplification with the V8 engine
Formula 1 is already planning regulatory adjustments from 2027 to reduce dependence on the electric system. The future balance should shift from the current roughly 50-50 split between thermal and electric to a ratio more oriented towards the combustion engine, around 60-40.
Despite Red Bull’s difficult start to the season, Marko still believes that Max Verstappen continues to achieve results beyond the true potential of his car.
“Red Bull is currently behind the other top teams, but Max still managed to place the car on the front row in Miami,” he emphasized. “When he has the right equipment, he brings something extra that no one else is capable of producing.”
Verstappen, best of all!
Marko also believes that Verstappen’s recent impressive performance during the 24 Hours of Nürburgring tests has only reinforced this conviction.
Asked separately by f1-insider.com, he even stated: “Max may be the best driver of all time. He demonstrated it again brilliantly on the Nordschleife. This performance was extremely positive for his image.”
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