Reigning world champion Max Verstappen has been backed to beat the Formula 1 record for the most wins in a season.
Michael Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013) currently share the record after both winning 13 races in their respective seasons. The Dutch driver has now won 11 races this season with six rounds remaining.
He has been backed by Red Bull senior adviser Helmut Marko, who predicts 14 wins is a realistic target for his team's driver. His comments come after watching Verstappen show dominant form as he came back from seventh on the starting grid to win the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Sunday.
The Dutch driver moved up into third after just two laps before catching and passing leader Charles Leclerc and holding out for victory, despite some late safety car controversy.
“He managed it relatively easily again,” Marko told Sky Sports Germany. “It was a pity the race ended under the Safety Car. We had the upper hand but it was amazing how quickly he took the lead.
“Everything is fine and now we need one more win (Verstappen needs two wins to equal the record), then he will set the record. Maybe we can do 14 wins.”
Verstappen sits top of the drivers' championship standings 116 points clear of Leclerc in a dominant season. Rival Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team have had a season to forget with Brit yet to record a win.
He agreed with Marko and said Verstappen was 'almost unbeatable' and has 'chilled at the front'. He added: "That Red Bull is almost unbeatable. It's going to take some real doing to beat that car.
"Performance-wise they are fully ahead of everyone. We haven't caught them and we don’t have upgrades coming to overtake them, so it's going to take some fortune going our way. Verstappen has generally chilled at the front, so you never know the true pace."
The Italian GP ended controversially behind a safety car due to a late mechanical problem for Daniel Ricciardo.
Verstappen was booed by the Ferrari supporting Tifosi who had hopes for one last attack for victory by Leclerc.
“That was certainly not the right decision,” Marko added. "The safety car picked up the wrong driver and you have to stop the lapped ones being waved through.
"It doesn’t matter at all and it would have been a great finish. Maybe tighter for us and a disadvantage, but we have to put the sport first.”
