Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has explained why the team is “counting” on Max Verstappen being back at the front of the Formula 1 field next year.
The Milton Keynes-based squad and the Dutchman have, by their own high standards, endured a poor 2025 campaign thus far.
Verstappen has taken just two wins all year, and is precariously close to losing third spot in the Drivers’ standings, with McLaren’s drivers the runaway leaders in the title.
The four-time World Champion has confirmed his commitment to the team, after continuing and mounting speculation about his future across the summer.
Red Bull has previously downplayed its chances of being victorious in 2026, the first year of F1’s brand-new technical regulations.
But Marko, speaking to Austrian publication Krone, intimated there are reasons to be hopeful, and hopes a successful Verstappen season will end further speculation of joining a rival outfit.
“We are counting on Max being back in the lead next season, so we won’t hear any more talk about his clauses,” he said.
“The figures we are currently seeing are promising, and there is still a long way to go before testing begins.
“We are well on track with the chassis, and the performance of the power unit will be determined by four factors: the internal combustion engine, the battery, the fuel and the power supply.”
Red Bull hopeful F1 avoids Mercedes-style 2014 dominance in 2026
Red Bull will enter 2026 with its in-house powertrains department launching a new engine in collaboration with American giants Ford.
Many have speculated that next year will see a season of one team being the dominant force, as Mercedes were at the beginning of the V6 hybrid era in 2014.
Marko is hopeful that such an eventuality will not become a reality, and joked that Verstappen’s extracurricular activities are keeping him happy.
“I hope that what happened in 2014, when Mercedes had 50 to 70 more horsepower, will not be repeated,” he said.
“Verstappen sees that we are working hard, and all it takes to make him smile is to start talking about GT3 and Sim-Racing.”
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