Red Bull Senior Advisor Blames Mercedes Chief For Max Verstappen Rumors
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Red Bull Racing senior advisor Helmut Marko has accused Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff of fueling rumors about Max Verstappen's switch to Mercedes, especially about the exit clause in the Dutch driver's contract.
The last two months saw intense speculation about Verstappen's potential move to Mercedes, with Wolff even publicly admitting his interest in the four-time world champion, while George Russell's contract extension was reportedly kept on hold.
The rumors intensified after Red Bull ousted former team principal Christian Horner. Reports circulated that if Verstappen dropped to P4 in the Drivers' Standings before the summer break, an exit clause would be triggered in his Red Bull contract.
However, Marko blamed Wolff for the rumors and revealed that he knew what Verstappen's decision would be, given the new regulations coming into effect next year. The 81-year-old advisor said:
Mercedes' Austrian team principal Toto Wolff (L) and Red Bull Racing's director Helmut Marko arrive in the pits of the Circuit de Monaco before the second practice session of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix...
Mercedes' Austrian team principal Toto Wolff (L) and Red Bull Racing's director Helmut Marko arrive in the pits of the Circuit de Monaco before the second practice session of the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix on May 24, 2024, two days ahead of the race. More
ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP/Getty Images
"That was quite annoying recently! Above all, everyone thought they knew better than us what the exit clause looked like. All of that was fueled somewhat by Toto.
"But it was always clear to me, because it would have been senseless for Max to switch in 2026. Because it's a blank slate: nobody knows who has the best engine or the best chassis.
"There are many parameters where things can go wrong. If I were Verstappen, I would also look at that first and then decide."
Marko was asked if he expected the rumors to reappear in 2026. He said:
"I hope not. Because we're counting on being at the front again next season with Max."
Speaking of 2026, Sky Sports F1 reporter Simon Lazenby opened up about the exit clause in Verstappen's contract next year, stating that he will be free to engage with another team if he is second or below in the 2026 Drivers' Standings. He said:
"We understand, by the way, there's a performance clause in for next year that it's second. If he's second or worse, then he can move to where he needs to get to."
His colleague Bernie Collins revealed that Red Bull's car will not be the most powerful in 2026 and highlighted Mercedes' dilemma if it chooses to extend the contracts of both its drivers for multiple years. She said:
"It's an interesting situation, isn't it? Because we're going to have this reset with the regulations next year. You know, at least the rumor, the thought in the paddock is that Red Bull are maybe not going to come out as the strongest car in that reset. So, it does give Max this opportunity to look around, see what's going to happen, which team's going to be best.
"I think the feeling is it might be Mercedes because of the changes to the engine regulations, but we don't know that. The pity, I think, is that if Mercedes, let's say, signs George or Kimmy on a multi-year deal, then where's the gap come? If they sign them now for the next two years, there's not going to be a gap at the end of next year."
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