Marko Issues Honest Verdict On Verstappen's Potential Exit: 'You Have To Be Realistic'
F1
Helmut Marko suggested he wouldn't be surprised to see Max Verstappen leave Red Bull had the F1 team failed to provide him with a competitive car.
Over the past 12 months, many speculations have emerged about Max Verstappen potentially leaving Red Bull Racing. However, the four-time world champion remains with the Milton Keynes team (at least for 2025 for now).
One of the latest rumors suggested that Verstappen was offered a record-breaking $1,2 billion deal from Aston Martin to race for the team from 2026. Aston Martin's spokesperson later dismissed these.
The Dutchman has repeatedly emphasized that he is happy where he is at the moment, although he did admit that he once seriously considered leaving the Austrian F1 team in 2024.
One of the most important factors in the end will be whether Red Bull can provide him with a fast enough car for him to compete for race wins and, ultimately, the title.
Although Helmut Marko recently also dismissed Aston Martin rumors, confidently stating that Verstappen will be with Red Bull in 2026 and as a five-time world champion, he isn't disillusioned about the fact that his F1 team has to build a competitive car. He told F1-Insider:
We have to provide him with a car with which he is able to win under his own steam."
The 81-year-old is convinced that the four-time world champion is currently about 1-2 tenths faster than everyone else on the grid, which means Red Bull doesn't necessarily have to produce the fastest car, but it cannot be more than two-tenths off the quickest one. He added:
"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."
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