Max Verstappen’s Red Bull future isn’t in doubt—Helmut Marko confirms the plan remains intact even as Marko steps away.
Helmut Marko has issued a decisive stance on Verstappen’s long-term path with Red Bull after revealing his own departure. It was announced on Tuesday that Marko will exit his role as motorsport advisor for Red Bull GmbH at Red Bull Racing after two decades of service.
Over twenty years, the Austrian has mentored 20 drivers into Formula 1, with two champions emerging from his tutelage: Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. Daniel Ricciardo, another Marko-backed driver, has also claimed race wins under his guidance.
Verstappen’s future with Red Bull has often been a topic of speculation, given his current deal runs through 2028. At the start of 2024, amid allegations involving former team principal Christian Horner (which Horner denies), Verstappen signaled that if Marko left the team, he would consider leaving as well, underscoring the strong bond between the two.
The Dutch star is known to have an exit clause in his contract, permitting a departure if he isn’t in a designated championship position. The threshold is believed to be third place during the 2025 season, a target Verstappen did meet. This meant Verstappen was effectively tied to Red Bull through 2026, pending other factors.
Marko’s departure, however, does not imply a wobble in Verstappen’s allegiance. When asked by Kleine Zeitung whether Verstappen’s future at Red Bull was in jeopardy, Marko answered with a clear reassurance: “No. Max not only wants to succeed, but he wants to succeed in a harmonious environment. When he doesn’t have that anymore, he stops from one day to the next. But he is still far too young for that.”
Marko also described Verstappen’s initial reaction to his own stepping down and recounted the team’s belief in a championship bid. He noted that Verstappen’s mood was tinged with sadness, but the driver shared their continued faith in the possibility of winning the title this season, a belief Marko and Gianpiero Lambiase held firmly from the outset. Although their optimism was not realized, Marko explained that the disappointment solidified the decision that it was an appropriate moment to step away.
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