Axed Red Bull driver reveals 'threatening' Helmut Marko phone call

Axed Formula 1 driver Jaime Alguersuari has revealed he previously received a 'threatening' phone call from Red Bull chief Helmut Marko.

Red Bull's hierarchy and their driver decisions are well and truly in the spotlight currently after Liam Lawson's demotion back to Racing Bulls despite having only completed two races as Max Verstappen's teammate.

Alguersuari raced in 46 races with Red Bull's sister team Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls) from 2009 until 2011, and was the youngest ever driver to enter F1 at 19 years old before Max Verstappen broke that record at 17. Ironically, Alguersuari's own chance in F1 came due to a mid-season driver swap, with Sebastian Bourdais having been replaced.

The Spanish driver was also supported by Red Bull throughout his junior career, and in an interview with talkSPORT revealed what it was like to be under Marko’s mentorship.

Marko’s harsh mentoring style revealed

“I'm not his friend, but I don't regret that he put so much pressure on me because he made me stronger.

“We didn't have a friendship relationship because we didn't have to, but he put me into that zone.

“I remember in 2008, British Formula 3, where I was just fighting for the championship in the last race at Donnington Park, and he literally called me before the weekend.

“That phone call wasn't a support call. It was actually a threatening call. And he actually said, ‘if you don't win the championship, you're out of the program’. So that was the end of my career. And it was a one-minute call - and I won the championship.”

F1 HEADLINES: Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull verdict delivered as superstar teases huge announcement

Related

Latest F1 News

Cadillac F1 chief confirms Sergio Perez 'an option' for American team

• Today 04:00

Ferrari

The next Lewis Hamilton? Ferrari confirm signing of British racing star

• Yesterday 21:00