Helmut Marko dismisses Max Verstappen departure rumors

Helmut Marko precocious dismissed each speculation that his departure from Red Bull could unit Max Verstappen to permission the team. The Austrian made it wide that it simply won't happen. Earlier this week, Red Bull announced that Marko's 20-year epoch with the squad volition travel to an end, arsenic helium is stepping down arsenic an advisor.

When doubts arose astir Marko's aboriginal successful 2024, four-time champion Max Verstappen publically emphasized however important it was to him that Marko enactment successful the team. Because of this, galore began to question whether the departure of the advisor could unit the young Dutchman to look for a caller team. Marko, however, remains calm: "No. Max doesn't conscionable privation to win, helium wants to triumph successful a harmonious environment," helium said.

The Austrian clarified that Verstappen values ​​victories and stableness equally, and that the toxic ambiance could undermine his motivation. "When helium doesn't person it anymore, he'll halt overnight. But he's inactive excessively young for thing similar that," added Marko.

Marko admitted that Verstappen was “a spot sad” about his departure

Marko admitted that Verstappen was “a spot sad” astir his departure, arsenic helium had played a cardinal relation successful the young driver’s career; it was Marko who opened the doorway to Formula 1 for him erstwhile helium was conscionable 17 years old. “I would accidental that helium was already a spot bittersweet astir it,” helium stressed. “We erstwhile again remembered the unthinkable clip we had together.”

The erstwhile advisor besides revealed that precise fewer radical wrong Red Bull believed successful Verstappen’s chances of winning the rubric successful 2025, a play successful which helium mislaid the title by 2 points to Lando Norris. “I was the archetypal this season, and then, unneurotic with Gianpiero Lambiase, the lone 1 successful the squad who inactive believed successful this championship. We were determination with tremendous enthusiasm and commitment, truthful it was a immense disappointment erstwhile it didn’t enactment out. From that disappointment came the determination that present was the close clip to retire,” Marko added.