Marko denies Red Bull F1 exit theory

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has asserted he will not follow Max Verstappen to another squad should the Dutchman decide to leave his current team.

Verstappen has been linked with a Red Bull exit across the last 12 months with Aston Martin and Mercedes touted as potential destinations.

Marko recently confirmed Verstappen has exit clauses in his contract, which he stated could become a talking point around the summer break later this year.

But should Verstappen opt to leave Red Bull, Marko will not join him in a new environment.

“It would be absolutely out of the question for me,” Marko told oe24. “For me, F1 is Red Bull.”

Article continues below. 

Marko was also asked about the role of team orders and McLaren's use of them in the recent Japanese Grand Prix, where Oscar Piastri was not let through by McLaren to pass Lando Norris and try to attack Max Verstappen.

Despite having a slower car, Verstappen was able to wrestle the RB21 to the win, with Norris and Piastri scoring a double-podium in second and third.

Reflecting on that decision, Marko explained that he could not understand it. 

"That is a mystery to me, too," he added.

"But I don't know about the so-called Papaya Rules. 

That's a mystery to me too. But I don't know the so-called Papaya Rules."

The veteran Austrian then added that it was "nothing new" that Piastri appeared to better have more control over his emotions than Norris.