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Max Verstappen could be in for some unwelcome news as Helmut Marko's future at Red Bull Racing has slipped into uncertainty. The Dutchman has often explained how important Marko's presence is to him, as the Austrian has long been one of his strongest allies within the team.
Helmut Marko played a key role in bringing Max Verstappen to Red Bull at a young age, and the driver has repeatedly emphasized the significance he has had in his journey. There have even been repeated rumors suggesting Verstappen has a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave if Marko were no longer part of the outfit.
However, the man who has been with Red Bull since its debut in 2005 could be on his way out at the end of the 2025 season, despite having a contract that runs through 2026. After the Abu Dhabi GP, Marko admitted he was unsure what comes next for him and that he would need to “sleep over it” before deciding.
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"It's not in doubt, but I will have a discussion and then I see what I do. It's a complex set of different things," Marko said when asked about his future [via Motorsport.com].
"I have to sleep over it and then we will see," he added.
Since Christian Horner was fired as team principal and CEO in July, the management structure at the Milton Keynes-based outfit has undergone several changes. The Austrian faction within the team, which includes Marko and Mark Mateschitz, is reported to have taken stronger control of operations.
The team could be set for even more restructuring behind the scenes heading into 2026, with Isack Hadjar joining Max Verstappen on track in what is a new era for F1.
Laurent Mekies expands on the possibility of Max Verstappen's key ally Helmut Marko leaving Red Bull
Red Bull Racing team principal and CEO Laurent Mekies has expanded on the possibility of Max Verstappen's close ally Helmut Marko leaving the team. The Frenchman has suggested F1 is an ever-changing environment, and the management at the team is constantly looking to evolve with time.
While Mekies did not confirm or deny anything, his comments have thrown Marko's future into even more uncertainty, as he said:
"Helmut has been incredible in how supportive he has been in helping us turning things around this year. Obviously, him and the top management had quite a few difficult decisions to make in the year, and of course we always have.
"But Formula 1 is not a static environment, you always adjust your organisations, and it applies to technical, it applies to sporting," he added.
Mekies then added that it is "completely normal" for the team to review and try to improve in any way possible in the coming season. He then concluded by thanking Marko for the role he played in helping the team turn their season around at the halfway stage in 2025.
If Marko decides to call it a day and reports of his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase moving into a new role at Red Bull turn out to be true, Max Verstappen could well be contemplating his future, with his motives beyond next season already unknown.
