Helmut Marko has made a surprising admission about Max Verstappen's passion for F1, revealing that the four-time drivers' champion found more enjoyment in endurance racing than F1 last year.
The former Red Bull adviser, who spotted Verstappen's talent early and offered him an F1 seat for 2015, continues to follow the Dutchman's non-F1 exploits from afar.
Aside from his F1 duties, Verstappen is focusing his attention on the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, underlining his commitment to endurance racing.
When asked how closely he keeps track of Verstappen's sports car activities, Marko told oe24: "I watch everything online. It's always impressive to see how they carve their way through the field."
When it was suggested that the 28-year-old currently finds more enjoyment in endurance racing than Formula 1, Marko's response was telling: "That was already the case last year."
Verstappen has been increasingly vocal about his dissatisfaction with F1's current direction, particularly the emphasis on entertainment over pure racing.
His passion for endurance events, including regular appearances in GT racing, has provided an alternative competitive outlet.
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Red Bull championship doubts
Marko also admitted he lacks confidence that Red Bull can mount a serious championship challenge this year, despite Verstappen's unexpected title charge in the second half of 2025.
"I fear it won't happen this year," the Austrian said regarding the 71-time grand prix winners' prospects.
With new team principal Laurent Mekies at the helm and young French driver Isack Hadjar partnering Verstappen, the Milton Keynes outfit has struggled to recapture its dominant form.
When asked if he was in contact often with Verstappen, Marko bluntly replied: "No. That's why I can't give you any news about him."
Regarding Verstappen's future and speculation about a potential retirement at the end of 2026, Marko remained circumspect: "I'm too far away to judge that properly. From the outside, I don't give advice about that."
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