Red Bull Formula 1 advisor Helmut Marko has conceded Max Verstappen will have “no reason” to remain with the team should it not give him a competitive package in 2025.
Verstappen took his fourth consecutive title last season and has a deal with Red Bull through 2028, but that hasn’t dispelled rumours linking him with a move elsewhere.
Red Bull’s on-track decline as the campaign progressed, coupled with turmoil behind the scenes, has prompted repeated reports that Verstappen could decide to leave the team.
Mercedes has held a long-standing interest in the Dutchman’s coveted services, while Aston Martin has also been touted as a viable destination should he court a switch.
But while he’s insisted Verstappen will be at Red Bull in 2025, Marko has accepted there are no guarantees unless Red Bull builds a championship-challenging car this season.
Marko has stated that essential to Red Bull delivering on that target will be providing Verstappen with an RB21 that is consistent on all circuits compared to its predecessor.
“We have to provide him with a car with which he is able to win under his own steam,” Marko admitted to F1-Insider.
“It can be one to two tenths of a second slower than others, but unlike last year’s car, it has to be competitive throughout the season and on every track.
“If we don’t succeed, there is no reason for Max to stay with us. You have to be realistic about that.”
Verstappen’s future dependent on Red Bull level
Marko’s admission comes as Verstappen’s father Jos has claimed that his son honouring his contract with Red Bull will be dependent on how competitive the team is.
“He can stay with Red Bull if he sees a point to it,” he said. “His goal is still to be able to win races.
“If he feels that this is no longer possible at Red Bull, a move is not out of the question.
Mercedes not ruling out Verstappen swoop
Verstappen Sr is well-known to share a cordial relationship with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who has been vocal about his desire to acquire the reigning F1 champion.
Wolff revealed that discussions with Verstappen’s camp took place last summer, but those talks didn’t materialise into him replacing the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.
However, the Austrian, who promoted Andrea Kimi Antonelli to partner George Russell instead, hasn’t ruled out reigniting his interest in Verstappen at some stage.
“What I like with Max, Raymond [Vermeulen, Verstappen’s manager] and Jos is that we talk straight,” Wolff told Motorsport.com in 2024. “We don’t need to push each other.
“We have been in this too long; we’ve taken the decision for drivers for next year. This is what our full effort is going into.
“Hopefully that’s going to be the line-up for 2026 and beyond. But that doesn’t close the door on Max being with us in ’26 or beyond, because we want to still keep all the options open in the same way he does. So what I enjoyed in our conversations is there is never a hidden agenda.”
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