A new agreement confirming Helmut Marko’s continuation as a special advisor to the Red Bull Formula 1 outfit through the 2026 season has potentially blocked any avenues for Max Verstappen to join a rival team.
Marko has been a prominent fixture behind the scenes at Red Bull since it entered the Formula 1 circus in 2005 at the behest of company founder Dietrich Mateschitz.
However, amid a fractious atmosphere in the Red Bull hierarchy at the start of the 2024 season, cracks appeared to form between Marko, Team Principal Christian Horner and Mx Verstappen’s father Jos.
That prompted the likes of Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff to court Verstappen publicly for the seat Lewis Hamilton will vacate at the end of this season, despite the Dutchman remaining under contract with Red Bull until 2028.
Still, Marko and the Verstappens had installed an exit clause within that 2028 extension that would allow the reigning F1 champion to depart if Marko was no longer a part of the Red Bull family.
According to reports when this came to light earlier this year, Horner was not aware that this clause had been installed and it was no a part of the initial terms when Verstappen’s extension was first set.
However, as Jos Verstappen and Horner continue to have a frosty relationship, new reports show that Marko’s affiliation with Red Bull is moving forward on a surer footing.
Motorsport.com reports that Marko has signed an agreement confirming he will remain with Red Bull through the end of his contract in 2026.
Not only does this all but confirm Verstappen will remain with the team for the next two seasons, but the Dutchman cannot exit his contract in the event of illness or other uncontrollable circumstances leading to Marko leaving the Red Bull fold.
Whether this will prevent Wolff from continuing his pursuit of the Dutchman remains to be seen, for the Mercedes Team Principal has been consistent in his approach despite the lengthy contract Verstappen has with Red Bull.
In light of this recent development, however, Wolff would be wise to search elsewhere for a Hamilton replacement at Mercedes with viable candidates still available.
With Verstappen more than likely out of reach, Mercedes could elect to go with race-winning experience in the form of Carlos Sainz, who has long been deliberating his next move.
On the other hand, homegrown Mercedes talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been a long rumoured candidate to replace Hamilton on a long-term basis.
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