Marko wanted to use Red Bull drivers as ‘Sacrificial Lambs’ (Update)

After getting so much heat for wanting to risk Red Bull drivers lives, Christian Horner had to come out and say Marko was only kidding. Yeah, right.

UPDATE (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has denied reports that he wanted Red Bull's racing drivers to be "deliberately" infected with coronavirus.

The energy drink company's top motorsport chief caused a stir with comments he made recently to the Austrian broadcaster ORF.

He suggested drivers including Max Verstappen and Alex Albon should attend a training camp during the global shutdown and it would be "ideal" if they were infected with coronavirus to become immune.

But Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner told the BBC it was a "throwaway comment before understanding the seriousness of the pandemic".

"It has never been discussed or tabled as a serious suggestion," he said.

On Twitter, former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa called Marko's proposal "completely insane".

But like Horner, Marko has also clarified his comments. He tells Auto Bild that it is "of course not true" that he wanted Red Bull's drivers to be knowingly infected with Covid-19.

"It wasn't about deliberately infecting anybody," said the 76-year-old.

Marko believes he survived a coronavirus infection in February.

"If people my age – the highest risk group of all – can survive this disease, then you can certainly say that young athletes like our racing drivers should at least be less afraid of the consequences," he said.

"That was the only reason why we considered organizing the training camp despite the danger from the virus. There was never any talk of deliberate infection."

The plain-speaking Austrian says the media has become "overwhelmed" by constant coverage of the pandemic.

"Television, radio, newspapers – it's all about the virus. Of course you have to be careful and try to get the pandemic under control as quickly as possible. But please, with a sense of proportion," said Marko.

Dr. Helmut Marko was willing to risk killing a Red Bull driver or two

03/31/20 (GMM) A biochemist has scolded Dr Helmut Marko for "playing with human lives" by contemplating controlled coronavirus infections for Red Bull's drivers.

Marko caused a stir this week by telling the Austrian broadcaster ORF that he tried to put together a training camp for Red Bull's F1 and junior drivers during the global pandemic.

"It was only discussed in a small circle," said Red Bull's top motor racing official.

"It was going to be a camp where we could bridge the time mentally and physically."

Reports indicated that Marko said it would be "ideal" if drivers like Max Verstappen are infected by the virus while they are "young, strong and healthy".

"Then they would be well prepared for the world championship," the 76-year-old said.

Verstappen, though, told Marko he was "terrified" of being infected. Marko confirmed: "Let's just say that it (the idea) was not very positively received."

Biochemist Douwe de Boer, who works at Maastricht University, scolded Marko for contemplating "playing with human lives".

"This is a medical-ethical discussion and I don't think a team boss should want to risk the health of his employee," he told De Limburger newspaper.

The report said de Boer is currently involved in studying organ function of coronavirus patients at Maastricht hospital.

"The coronavirus is more unpredictable than a normal flu," he said.

"I understand Marko's thinking, as he wants immunity for his drivers. The government is talking about group immunity, and Marko thinks only of his drivers.

"But with coronavirus we are seeing that healthy, young people can also become seriously ill and even die."