Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull's powerful advisor, has expressed growing confidence that Max Verstappen will remain with the team beyond 2025, despite persistent rumours of a potential departure.
Speculation has swirled that Verstappen, frustrated by Red Bull's performance dip, internal turmoil, and recent pitlane errors, might leave for a rival team ahead of the 2026 regulation changes.
Last year, Mercedes openly courted the quadruple world champion, while reports now suggest Aston Martin has tabled a $100 million annual offer. "I read that too," Marko told Bild newspaper. "But I don't think that matters much to Max.
"For one thing, he doesn't earn too badly with us, and for another, he just wants to win. That's why we have to provide him with the fastest car. And we're working on that. We'll be making upgrades to the car soon."
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher doubted the upcoming Imola upgrade's impact, stating he "can't imagine" it will significantly close the gap to McLaren, while team principal Christian Horner downplayed the extent of the Imola package.
Marko, however, has consistently touted the Imola package, hinting that its success is crucial to boosting Verstappen's mood and preventing his exit. "I'm not thinking about that because I'm confident it will work as planned," the 82-year-old insisted. "We've identified our problem areas and are working on solutions."
Marko rejected claims of a Red Bull "crisis," calling the term "an overstatement."
He added, "We mustn't forget that we are the only team besides McLaren to win a grand prix, and our form has improved somewhat recently. But we're still not satisfied. Our ambitions are different. We want to win races and titles.
"But that requires not only an exceptional driver, but also the fastest car. We don't have that at the moment. But nothing's lost yet. We still have every chance of winning both world championship titles. It would be disastrous if we gave up just because things aren't going according to plan."
Previously, Marko admitted he was "very worried" that Red Bull's stagnation could push Verstappen, 27, toward a rival. "That's true," he confirmed, "but that worry has already shrunk.
"Max is loyal and he has subsequently committed publicly to Red Bull. And that fits with what I see in him now. He's fully focused on his job here. That's why I don't think he's even considering a change. Quite the opposite. I'm convinced Max will continue to compete for Red Bull in 2026."
Marko revealed earlier and ongoing discussions with Verstappen about 2025 expectations, stating, "Everyone—including Max—agreed that defending the title is obviously the goal, but we can't assume that we'll succeed. We'll do everything we can, but no one can expect us to win every time."
Verstappen, recently welcoming daughter Lily, echoed a relaxed mindset. "Of course, the baby is an exception," he smiled to Viaplay when asked about his stresses. "I've never been so nervous at resting heart rate.
"But the rest is just racing, and I've been doing it for so long that nothing can really shake me. I've been saying it for a long time—once you've fulfilled your dream of grand prix victories and title wins, you're much more relaxed. Even if you have a bad day, it doesn't really matter.
"It's more about how you get things back on track—you just keep going and put it behind you. You become much calmer and focus on what lies ahead. That's what I'm doing."
