Red Bull raise Max Verstappen 'reconsider' concern in Mercedes takedown

Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko has taken aim at Mercedes while highlighting his worry that Max Verstappen will rethink his choice to remain with the team.

The 82-year-old believes the Dutchman could review his loyalty to the Milton Keynes-based squad if it fails to produce a competitive car for him when F1's regulations overhaul for 2026 comes into effect.

Despite the considerable noise surrounding the four-time F1 drivers' champion, after widespread speculation that he may look to force a move to Mercedes, he has now committed himself to Red Bull for next season.

That is potentially because of a break clause in his contract - which would have allowed him to trigger his release if he fell outside the top three in the drivers' standings by the summer shutdown - becoming null and void after the Belgian Grand Prix.

With just the round at the Hungaroring to run before the summer break, Verstappen is 28 points ahead of George Russell in fourth place.

Nonetheless, Marko is clear that Verstappen at no point indicated his desire to leave the only home he has had in F1.

"Max is a very important part of our team," the Austrian said to F1-Insider. "He has had all his successes with Red Bull Racing and in his Formula 1 career has always only driven Red Bull cars.

"And besides his potential as a driver, he is just an important family member for us. Max has a contract through 2028, and there was nothing that spoke against continuing this contract."

"What he considered personally and with his management, I don't know. But it was clear from his statements that he wanted to stay. Even if the exit clause had come into effect, nobody knows what the situation will look like in 2026."

Marko's unfounded claim

However, Verstappen seeking pastures new for 2027 remains a threat to the six-time constructors' champions, adding pressure to the team to ace the next rules set, which will see it take its first steps as a power unit manufacturer.

Whilst addressing the precarious position that Red Bull is still in, Marko offered sharp, if unfounded, criticism of Mercedes, which is widely rumoured and regarded as the favourite to head the pecking order when the next F1 campaign gets underway.

He highlighted the "uncertainty" facing the paddock, saying: "Mercedes proclaims itself the leader, but there is no proof of that.

"Even with the chassis, we don't know who will take the big prize. There is a lot of uncertainty."

However, Marko did acknowledge the risk that Verstappen starts to "reconsider his decision" if Red Bull cannot fight at the front.

"From Max's perspective, it makes much more sense to stay, look at the situation, and, if we might not be competitive next year, reconsider his decision," he said. "Such loyalty is rare or even an exception among celebrities these days."