Helmut Marko has reportedly promised star driver and close ally Max Verstappen that he would make it possible for the Dutchman to leave Red Bull by quitting, should the three-time world champion desire to leave the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
After the behind-the-scenes drama erupted in early February, it emerged that there was a clause in Verstappen’s Red Bull contract linking his future with Marko. This became apparent when the Austrian advisor’s position was thrown into question at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
At the time, Verstappen was incensed by the question marks over Marko’s head with the 81-year-old facing an internal investigation over the leaking of team principal Christian Horner’s WhatsApp messages. While he was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing, the three-time world champion’s threats to quit the team were very real.
Marko made public his appreciation for Verstappen’s brave show of loyalty and according to a report from BBC Sport, has made it clear to the Dutchman that he will willingly quit at any time to trigger his contract clause and facilitate a move to another team, should that be of the reigning champion’s desire.
However, for now, Verstappen appears settled at Red Bull and despite the surprise announcement of Adrian Newey’s departure ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, key figures in the camp are insisting that there is no chance he will leave in the near future.
“Well, you report those rumblings every week but he’s still here,” Horner told Sky Sports F1 after news of Newey’s departure broke. “Look, Max is very happy in the team. He’s got a wonderful group of engineers around him, he’s got a great car, he’s in the best car on the grid, he’s driving in the form of his life.
“It’s not about contracts, it’s about being content and I think that’s the same for any driver and he has that. He has that dynamic around him and I think that what you’re seeing with him is a driver that’s revelling in that environment.”
These sentiments were echoed by Verstappen himself, who made it clear ahead of the on-track action in Miami that he will remain at Red Bull as long as they continue to offer him the strongest machinery.
“I know myself that if I will be driving for P5 or P6, you get quite grumpy with yourself,” he explained. “So, it’s always about performance at the end of the day. I mean, everyone knows that. Toto [Wolff] also knows that. My future is within Red Bull at the moment.”
