Verstappen and Red Bull future in Aussie spotlight

Max Verstappen is on the edge of special slice of Formula 1 history, but that is not the topic on everyone’s lips ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.

If Verstappen secures back-to-back Australian Grand Prix wins as expected, he will secure a 10th consecutive victory with the faultless run stretching back to Japan last year.

This will match the record the Flying Dutchman already holds of the most successive wins in Grand Prix history of 10 achieved at Italy just last year where he overtook Sebastian Vettel.

Despite both Verstappen and Red Bull performing at such a high level hardly seen before, the future of both team and driver is the big talking point heading to Albert Park.

These discussions would have been unthinkable just a month ago with Verstappen in theory locked in until 2028.

But the ongoing battle for power within Red Bull following the fall out of the Christian Horner investigation, has turned the team on its head.

Although Horner was cleared by Red Bull GmbH of wrongdoing in a misconduct investigation into the allegations made by a female staff member, the controversy has not gone away.

Ever since the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022, there are conflicting views as to how the F1 team should be run.

If Horner ends his rein as team principal dating back to its first race back in 2005, mastermind designer Adrian Newey could also go with him.

However, it is the position of Red Bull’s Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko that could have a big impact on Verstappen’s future at the team.

At the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the three-time world champion made the intriguing comments that he would likely leave the team he has scored all of his 56 wins at if Marko is let go.

“I think I have been very clear that he always has to stay,” said Verstappen on Marko.

“My loyalty in general to Red Bull, but also to him, after all for what he has done for me goes very far.

“I’ve always said, especially after Dietrich’s passing, with everyone in the team, that I find it really important that we keep the key team together because that’s how we have performed really well and that’s how we will perform really well in the future. They know that.

“For me, Helmut is a very key factor in that and he has to stay for me, for sure.

“I’ve always indicated that Helmut has to stay for the future, as long as he’s alive. I can’t continue without him.

“I’ve always been very clear about that, like last year after Qatar and I hope that doesn’t change.”

The comments have sparked speculation ahead of Australia that there maybe a break clause in Verstappen’s contract that would enable him to leave Red Bull before 2028.

These are a common place in contracts, with the most recent notable example Lewis Hamilton who activated an exit clause in his two-year deal with Mercedes to 2025 to join Ferrari next year instead.

Having lost the seven-time world champion, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said he “would love” to place Verstappen into the vacant seat alongside George Russell.

Despite being “certain” Verstappen would stay at Red Bull at the start of the Jeddah weekend, Horner’s comments slightly changed tone after the race.

“You can never say never. If a driver doesn’t want to be somewhere, then they’ll go somewhere else,” he said.

“But as a team, I can’t see any reason why anybody would want to step out of this team.

“I think he’s got great support around him and he’s doing a wonderful job with a great car.”

Max’s father Jos Verstappen hopes the whole situation will “calm down” in Melbourne.

“It’s part of it, but it’s also necessary to calm down,” he told SPORZA.

“It is necessary to regain calm in the team, but given the circumstances it will take some time, I think.

“I can’t say much about it. Hopefully they can concentrate on racing again soon, because that’s what it’s all about.

“The important thing is that he keeps winning, whatever he does. The car is running very well and between the engineers and him there is also nothing wrong.

“Max can switch off a certain part, only he gets a lot of questions about it. He doesn’t like that, but it’s part of Formula 1.”

The matter will certainly be a talking point inside the paddock when the Formula 1 world returns to Albert Park for media day on Thursday and opening practice on Friday.

Photo by Zak Mauger / LAT Images

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