Despite rumors about a possible departure of Max Verstappen at the end of the season, Helmut Marko believes that the Dutchman will continue in Formula 1 even after the end of his contract with Red Bull, scheduled for the end of 2028.
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In an interview with the Austrian newspaper Krone, Marko stated that he does not expect to see the four-time world champion leaving the main motorsport category, even with the driver’s interest in competing in other disciplines in the future, especially after his experience with GT racing at Nürburgring: “All the money is in Formula 1. That is why I assume we will still see Max at the pinnacle of motorsport even after the end of his contract with Red Bull in 2028,” he said. “This is where the money is.”
Besides talking about the Dutchman’s future, Marko highlighted that Red Bull’s priority is to deliver a competitive car again: “Look, the most important thing is to give Max a competitive car. Like in Monaco or Austria. In Silverstone, they were very far behind again. We just need to become consistent again,” he said.
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The Austrian also asked for patience from the driver and mentioned the expectation for the new engine era: “The real race with a V8 engine should start in 2030/31, and Max needs to hold on until then,” he said. About the clause that may allow an early exit for Verstappen, he added: “Every contract contains these clauses, but you can also negotiate these deadlines,” he concluded.
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