For any up-and-coming driver, confidence is the key. You can be the best at what you do, but if you lose your nerves when it really matters, you’ll never win. That said, confidence also comes from the people you admire. For Red Bull junior drivers, that person, undoubtedly, is Dr. Helmut Marko. After having rather timid stints as a driver in F1 and Le Mans, the Austrian has now established himself as the Chief Advisor to the Milton-Keynes-based outfit. In his role, he’s essentially also head of the young driver development program. But is Helmut Marko really the nurturing kind?

Marko’s media portrayal would make you believe he’s an impatient tyrant whose only objective is to see you go fast. However, according to Red Bull’s karting prodigy Enzo Tarnvanichkul, nothing could be farther away from the truth.

“Marko is a great person–he has also had a wonderful career and has driven in F1 and Le Mans. A great and inspiring character when you meet him. The television sometimes misleads you.” said the 13-year-old while giving his speech at the FIA’s prize-giving ceremony.

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Helmut Marko has laid a firm foundation at Red Bull. Irrespective of his man-management style, it’s no secret that under his tutelage, the team has produced a lot of talented drivers that have shown their worth in the sport. However, nothing lasts forever. And Helmut knows this. And he’s chosen a man, as his successor, who he thinks will be the best fit to replace him.

Helmut Marko names Sebastian Vettel as his Red Bull successor

Helmut Marko’s legacy in Formula 1 is rock solid. It is only fair that when the time comes, and the man paves the way for another, his successor, too, like him, is a man who has had unparalleled success in the sport. And it is none other than his former protégé, Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel is now a Formula 1 retiree. But can he stay away from the sport for too long? Marko doesn’t seem to think so. Marko, in an interview with Vettel, told Sky, “It’s not out of the question he will come back in a top management position. I’ll be 80 soon. That would be something!”

“We had a discussion and I think if he could get a top management position, that might appeal to him. That’s what emerged in the talk.”

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Is Helmut Marko really the tyrant the media makes him out to be? Or is his tough love the reason why we have so many talented drivers on the grid today?