Jos Verstappen reacted harshly to Ralf Schumacher’s statements about the current situation of Red Bull Racing in Formula 1. The former German driver had pointed to Helmut Marko’s departure as one of the reasons for the team’s difficult start this year, but Max Verstappen’s father dismissed the analysis as ‘nonsense’.
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Red Bull is facing a complicated start to the 2026 season, currently sitting sixth in the constructors’ championship. Schumacher assessed that the team’s moment is uncertain and stated that Marko’s absence has left the team without a clear guiding figure.
During an appearance on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, the former driver highlighted that Red Bull is going through a period of reorganization: “I think it’s necessary to be honest now and say that Red Bull is not very attractive in the current situation. At the moment, it is again a long-term project,” said Schumacher, who also mentioned engine development as one of the team’s focuses.
The German also described the team as disorganized at this moment: “The team itself is a bit chaotic now, going in all directions. There is no clear communication to the public,” he said. According to him, the absence of the former team consultant weighs in this scenario: “Helmut Marko is also missed as a figure to provide some kind of guidance,” he stated.
Jos Verstappen’s response came directly on social media. The former F1 driver did not agree with the analysis and replied with few words: “Ralf talks a lot of nonsense.”
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Marko left Red Bull in December 2025 after two decades as a team consultant. During this period, he was one of the central figures in talent development, including Max Verstappen, as well as serving as a reference within the team’s structure.
Despite his departure, Marko continues to maintain contact with the team. At the start of the season, Verstappen stated that their relationship remains close: “I shared many moments with him, so it will be a bit different in the garage, but we need to look forward. We have a great relationship and continue to stay in touch,” said the Dutch driver.
More recently, Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies also confirmed that Marko still offers support: “You don’t turn the page on Helmut, who built this young driver program for two decades with enormous success. We are living this legacy now, and he is around if we need him,” concluded the executive.
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