After the sixth place of Max Verstappen at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Red Bull Motor Sports Advisor Helmut Marko had commented on the fact that the Dutchman could leave the team at the end of the current season. Now Verstappen spoke plain text himself – and puzzled loudly.
In spring 2022, Max Verstappen extended his contract at Red Bull prematurely until the end of 2028. Speculations about an early departure of the now four-time Formula 1 world champion has been around again and again-especially since the mid-2024 season, in which the Austrians lost their technical lead over the competition.
After the Grand Prix of Bahrain, which Verstappen only completed the sixth material last Sunday, it was Red Bull Motor Sports Advisor Helmut Marko, who scattered the rumors. “The concern is great,” the 81-year-old made an alarm on the Pay TV station “Sky”.
Verstappen himself spoke plain text in the run-up to the Grand Prize of Saudi Arabia on Sunday (7:00 p.m./Sky).
Formula 1: Verstappen puzzles over Marko statements
“Many people talk about it, just me,” said the Dutch at the press conference in the Dschidda paddock on Thursday: “I want to focus on our car and just remember to work with the team.”
When asked why Marko fueled speculation in Bahrain, Verstappen seemed almost amused – and almost puzzled with the journalists present. “To be honest, I don’t know,” replied the 27-year-old: “I’m very relaxed.”
In the Red Bull team, he was “happy,” emphasized the defending champion. Only about his new RB21 “Mad Max” couldn’t report that much good.
“At the moment we are not the fastest, so it is logically difficult to fight,” he said. However, Verstappen does not yet write down his fifth World Cup title: “A year ago we also sat here and everything looked great – and then we saw how it developed.”