Helmut Marko reveals factor that’ll make ‘fastest driver’ Max Verstappen STAY at Red Bull
The four-time world champion Max Verstappen is the most prized possession of the Milton-Keynes-based Red Bull Formula 1 team.
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Helmut Marko, Max Verstappen and Christian Horner (via IMAGO)
Max Verstappen has been making his trade with the Milton-Keynes-based Red Bull F1 team since 2016. He amassed his fourth consecutive world championship this year and while the sport is in a break until the start of the 2025 season, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has talked about Verstappen’s future.
The 81-year-old veteran has specifically shed light on the factor that will make Max Verstappen stay with Red Bull for a long time. During the 2024 season, there was immense noise around Verstappen potentially moving to the other top teams in the coming years.
We [Red Bull] have the fastest and best driver in the field in Max, it is only natural that we take his preferences into account when it comes to developing the car’s handling characteristics. I am sure that as long as we give him a competitive car, he will stay at Red Bull Racing.
Helmut Marko via Racingnews365
Verstappen currently has a contract with the Red Bull F1 team until the end of the 2028 season. However, it is believed that the 27-year-old has an exit clause in his contract that is based on how competitive Red Bull proves to be in the coming years.
Max Verstappen’ Red Bull expecting a ‘close battle at the top’ in 2025
While Helmut Marko has emphasized keeping Max Verstappen at Red Bull for as long as possible, he has also talked about the 2025 F1 season. The fight was fierce in 2024 and many believe that things will get kicked up a notch next year.
Marko also feels that it will be an all-out brawl among the top teams.
I am sure that we will be facing a close battle at the top next year. That is normal in the last year of a regulation period. The field will be closer together. It is common practice in Formula 1 to copy successful concepts. And the longer the specifications remain stable, the more similar the cars will become. This automatically increases the level of performance.
Helmut Marko via the same interview
The Lando Norris-led McLaren F1 team secured the 2024 constructors title. Their MCL38 operated in a league of its own and the lights of Red Bull and Ferrari did not have much of an answer.
Keeping in view that the regulations will remain stable for next year, Verstappen and Co. will be required to do the best possible job. In case their 2025 challenger does not meet the might of the other top teams, then they would be in for a painful 24-race campaign.
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Rishabh Negi
(3234 Articles Published)