Red Bull face a new challenge as Verstappen’s title drive fades, prompting urgent efforts to restore his competitive mindset.
Dr. Helmut Marko admits that Max Verstappen is gradually giving up in his fight for a fifth consecutive Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship.
The Red Bull driver was left disheartened by the FIA penalties handed out in Barcelona, which dropped him to 10th place, nearly 50 points behind Oscar Piastri, and left him on the brink of a race suspension. The Dutchman, who has since – reluctantly – admitted fault, had claimed he was no longer truly in the title fight.
Asked whether that meant Verstappen was slowly throwing in the towel, the Red Bull advisor admitted: “It’s true, he is a bit defeatist.”
“I’m trying to lift his spirits, because we are not giving up yet.”
“But something must be done with the car.”
Marko added that Verstappen had been “in very good spirits” before Barcelona, hoping that the car upgrade from Imola would also perform well in Spain.
“He was more relaxed… until Spain.”
“A lot happened to him there. He was fitted with the wrong tyre, there was the incident with Leclerc on the straight, and then he had to give up a position even though he thought he was 100% in the right.”
“The FIA confirmed they wouldn’t have asked him to give the position back. So, at some point, you lose your cool.”
Marko rejected theories that Verstappen was deliberately trying to activate a contract exit clause, but when asked about the highly controversial clash with George Russell, the Austrian admitted: “Max could have handled the situation in a much more graceful manner.”
“The supposed exit clauses seem to pop up all over the place now, but none of that is relevant at the moment.”
Marko met with Verstappen this week in Austria. Asked whether the four-time world champion had finally calmed down, he replied: “Yes, but that doesn’t solve our problem.”
“Our car is simply not fast enough. That bothers me even more than Max’s actions. We are still three tenths behind McLaren.”