Red Bull adviser Dr Helmut Marko has delivered a blunt assessment of the 2025 Formula 1 hierarchy post-Bahrain testing.
"(Lando) Norris is in front, behind him is Max (Verstappen), then it's Ferrari with (Charles) Leclerc and Mercedes," Marko told Auto Bild.
Two-time champion Mika Hakkinen aligns with the paddock consensus, tipping McLaren's Norris as Melbourne's favourite. "I think Lando is ready to win," he told Corriere dello Sport.
"The question is what lessons he learned in the title fight last year. Making mistakes is no shame, but speed alone is not enough to win. Just look at Max—he won last year even though the development of his car was not good."
Hakkinen predicts a tight 2025 battle in the final year of current rules. "I could spend a whole day explaining why one driver could prevail over the other," he said.
For quadruple champion Verstappen, he sees a mental hurdle. "It really won't be easy for him mentally," Hakkinen noted. "From the outside you can see the races, the tests and the interviews, but outside the spotlight a lot of work is also required. You also need to know how to deal with the pressure and the criticism."
Yet he lauded Verstappen's resilience. "Max knows what is needed and he delivers," he said.
"And if I see a comparison with myself, Verstappen also has to deliver in a Formula 1 era that is full of talent—from (Lewis) Hamilton to Norris and from (George) Russell to Leclerc. Max deserves a lot of respect for that."
