Verstappen could leave RB, warns Marko

Red Bull's motorsport advisor Dr. Helmut Marko has warned that three-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen could leave the Anglo-Austrian team if he feels that the environment is not "right".

Max Verstappen started the 2024 F1 season in dominant fashion, winning four of the first five rounds which allowed him to build up a seemingly unbeatable advantage in the drivers’ standings. However, with McLaren having achieved eye-catching improvements after introducing an upgrade package in Miami, Red Bull’s pace advantage has disappeared.

In recent months, the Dutch driver has attracted interest from Mercedes, with reports having linked him to the Brackley-based outfit as Lewis Hamilton's replacement. However, Mercedes confirmed at the Italian Grand Prix that F2 junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli will take over Hamilton's car, putting an end to the rumours.

However, Red Bull's motorsport advisor Dr. Helmut Marko told Sport.de that the reigning world champion might leave the team if he is unhappy with the competitiveness of his car.

“The danger is there. Max is not a guy who wants to beat the records of [Michael] Schumacher or [Lewis] Hamilton. When he’s in the car, he wants to win, but the environment has to be right.

"If the whole thing no longer suits him, you can expect him to say from one day to the next: that’s it."

Pushed on to reveal how Verstappen could leave Red Bull despite having a valid contract with the team until the end of the 2028 season, Marko Marko noted that the Dutch driver has performance-related exit clauses in his contract.

“Most top drivers have exit clauses that are performance-related. Max has one too. This means that if we can’t provide him with a car in which he can drive at the front, [leaving] is certainly something he will consider.”