Red Bull calm nerves as Verstappen exit talk fades

Marko insists Verstappen is committed to Red Bull as the team works to regain dominance before 2026 regulation changes shake up F1.

Despite a rough outing in Miami, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko is now more confident that Max Verstappen will stay with the team beyond 2025.

Rumors had been swirling that Verstappen might jump ship as Red Bull faces internal challenges, declining performance, and uncharacteristic mistakes, even in the pit lane. Some speculated that the reigning four-time world champion could leave just in time for the major regulation overhaul in 2026.

Mercedes showed interest last year, and new reports claim Aston Martin may have offered Verstappen a staggering $100 million a year.

“I’ve seen that too,” Marko said. “But I don’t think Max is driven by that. He’s well paid with us, and more importantly, he just wants to win.”

“That’s why we need to give him the fastest car possible. We’re working on it. Some upgrades are on the way.”

While Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has downplayed the impact of upcoming changes, and former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher doubts they’ll be enough to close the gap to McLaren, Marko remains optimistic. He’s been backing the upcoming Imola upgrade for weeks, subtly suggesting its success is crucial.

“I’m not worried,” Marko insisted. “We’ve identified our weaknesses and we’re working on solutions.”

He brushed aside any talk of a “crisis” within the team.

“That’s exaggerated. Don’t forget, we’re still the only team besides McLaren to win a Grand Prix this season. Our form has picked up slightly, but we’re not satisfied. We have higher ambitions.”

“We want to win races and championships. That takes more than just an exceptional driver, it takes the fastest car. Right now, we don’t have that. But nothing’s lost. We still have every chance to win both titles this year.”

“Throwing in the towel just because things aren’t perfect? That would be a mistake.”

Just recently, Marko admitted he was “very concerned” that Verstappen might leave if Red Bull’s performance plateaued. But now, his tone has shifted.

“That’s true,” he said. “But that concern has faded.”

“Max is loyal. He’s publicly committed to Red Bull, and that matches what I see in him every day. He’s fully focused on the job here.”

“That’s why I don’t think he’s planning to go anywhere. In fact, I’m confident he’ll still be with us in 2026.”

Marko revealed he’s had plenty of conversations with Verstappen about expectations for 2025.

“Everyone, including Max, agrees, defending the title is the goal. But we can’t assume it will happen. We’ll give it everything, but we can’t expect to win every race.”

Now a father to baby daughter Lily, Verstappen says he’s approaching the 2025 season with a more balanced mindset.

“Sure, having a baby changes things. I’ve never been so nervous just sitting at home,” he joked. “But racing? I’ve been doing it for so long now that nothing really shakes me anymore.”

“I’ve said it before, once you’ve achieved your dream of race wins and titles, you’re more relaxed. Even on a bad day, it doesn’t feel like the end of the world. It’s all about bouncing back and moving forward.”

“You learn to stay calm and focus on what’s next. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”