Red Bull may have a reputation for being brutal when it comes to its young drivers, but Helmut Marko says at least the team doesn’t throw its drivers in the deep end like Mercedes has done with Kimi Antonelli.

And especially not after talking them up as the next big thing in Formula 1.

Helmut Marko defends Red Bull amidst Kimi Antonelli’s struggles

Antonelli entered Formula 1 this season, billed as a once-in-a-generation talent and a teenage protege.

Scoring points in five of his first six race weekends, the Italian seemed to be living up to the billing, only for his head to drop as he recorded a run of retirements interrupted by a debut podium at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Such was the pressure of his situation that, out in Q1 at the Belgian Grand Prix, an emotional Antonelli faced th

See Full Page