Marko: 'Verstappen like Senna'

Red Bull's motorsport consultant Helmut Marko has likened teenager Max Verstappen to Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna and suggested that the Dutchman possesses the level of talent only seen once in a decade.

The 16-year-old will race for Toro Rosso next season, replacing Jean-Eric Vergne in the Red Bull junior team, and his much-publicised move into the sport at an early age <a href="/formula-1/toro-rosso/news/verstappen-too-young-for-f1_173976.html">has been met with criticism</a> from some quarters.

However, Marko is convinced that the Austrian outfit's development programme has uncovered a rare gem in Verstappen.

Marko told <em>Formula 1.com</em>: "[He is] Most likely Ayrton . . .