Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has revealed that the team harbours genuine “concern” that Max Verstappen could leave unless its current performance improves in Formula 1.
Verstappen was condemned to a sobering weekend in Bahrain as the particular track characteristics and searing temperatures exposed the limitations of Red Bull’s RB21.
The Dutchman rued issues with his brakes and overheating as he crossed the line in a distant sixth position, 34 seconds behind Oscar Piastri as McLaren triumphed again.
But despite residing third in the Drivers’ Championship, eight points behind Lando Norris, Verstappen has asserted that he isn’t in contention to retain the title in 2025.
Marko, who branded Red Bull’s showing “alarming”, has warned that the team not providing Verstappen with the tools to be in the running might have severe implications.
“The concern is great,” Marko professed to Sky Germany. “As I said, improvements have to come in the near future so that he has a car with which he can win again.
“We have to create a basis with a car so that he can fight for the World Championship.”
Red Bull’s decline
There has been speculation surrounding Verstappen’s prospects ever since a probe into Red Bull boss Christian Horner caused visible unrest to emerge behind the scenes.
But while Verstappen continued to rack up victories as that saga overshadowed the team over the initial races last season, Red Bull’s competitiveness has since regressed.
Having prevailed seven times across the opening 10 races last year, Verstappen has been limited to three victories in the past 18 rounds as McLaren has surpassed Red Bull.
Red Bull’s decline appeared to reach a head over the weekend as Verstappen contended the RB21 was slower around Bahrain than the RB20 he dominated the 2024 race with.
“I feel like we are even worse on tyres somehow this year,” Verstappen proclaimed to media including Motorsport Week. “It makes it just very complicated, because last year we were not too bad around here.
“Of course, people made improvements, but I feel like we actually had a worse weekend than last year. So it’s a bit weird.”
Verstappen’s limited options
According to respected pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz, Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, was spotted engaged in a tense discussion with Marko post-race in Bahrain.
Verstappen’s deal with Red Bull, which runs through 2028, does contain certain clauses that will become active should the team’s competitiveness drop beneath a threshold.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has reserved a long-standing interest in Verstappen and even tried to entice him to the team to replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.
However, Wolff is reported to have dropped his bid to sign the reigning F1 champion as George Russell’s sublime start to 2025 is poised to see him rewarded with a renewal.
Verstappen has also been linked with a reunion with Adrian Newey, who vacated his role at Red Bull to head up Aston Martin’s technical team heading into the new ruleset.
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