Helmut Marko has admitted Red Bull are “greatly concerned” that Max Verstappen may look elsewhere unless the team can vastly improve their fortunes in the coming months
Christian Horner is desperate to get his floundering Red Bull team back on track amid growing belief that they could lose Max Verstappen. Their performance in Bahrain was dismal and the Dutchman’s best efforts in a car well off the pace were good enough only for sixth place – more than half a minute slower than winner Oscar Piastri.
Verstappen has a contract until 2028 but it contains performance clauses and paddock rumours suggest they could become active this summer. And clearly there is tension at Red Bull after the four-time champion’s manager Raymond Vermeulen was spotted angrily confronting team adviser Helmut Marko in the garage after Sunday’s race.
Marko, 81, told German television that “the concern is great” that Verstappen, 27, could become disillusioned and look for a seat with one of Red Bull’s rivals. And team boss Horner now knows that Verstappen’s shock win at Suzuka earlier this month was nothing more than a port in a storm that threatens to cause serious long-term damage.
He said: “I think this race has exposed some pitfalls that are obviously very clear that we need to get on top of very quickly. I think ultimately you can mask it a little through setup and we were able to achieve that last weekend in Suzuka.
“I think we understand where the issues are, it’s introducing the solutions that obviously take a little more time. It was a bad weekend for the team, nothing went our way from the start of the race, we didn’t get off the line cleanly and pit stops didn’t work well for us today.
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“But it’s a 24-race championship, we’re eight points behind in the drivers championship and we know we need to make progress very quickly. So it was important today to score the most points and he fought for every point that he could in a difficult car today, so it’s how they add up at the end of the year that’s important.”
Verstappen, though, is not convinced that he will be a major player in the title fight, telling Dutch media that he is “taking part” in the championship rather than challenging for a fifth-straight crown.
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Lando Norris leads the standings but admitted he is “nowhere near” his best after labouring to a third-placed finish, having started sixth on the grid. Team-mate Oscar Piastri was in complete control of the Grand Prix and won from pole to slash the Brit’s championship advantage to just three points.
And McLaren driver Norris said: “When I know what I can do and what I’m capable of, and I’m not even close to reaching that, I’m very disappointed in myself. I wish I knew the answer. I don’t have an answer, honestly.
“When you’re a driver you just know when things click, when you feel confident, when you feel comfortable. I’m confident that I have everything I need and I’ve got what it takes. I have no doubt about that – that I’m good enough.
“But something’s just not clicking with me and the car. I’m not able to do any of the laps like I was doing last season. The car is just mega and that’s helping me get out of a lot of problems at the minute. But I’m just nowhere near the capability that I have, which hurts.”
