Marko clear on Verstappen's future: 'Max's departure a good reason to quit'

While the rumours about Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull Racing persist, with Mercedes or Aston Martin named as possible destinations, top advisor Helmut Marko underlined they are doing everything to keep the defending world champion on board.

Red Bull doing all it can to keep Verstappen

The top advisor is clear that the updates planned for the RB21 are not only for making their car more competitive, but also to keep Verstappen. "Those updates are necessary so that Max can win his fifth world title. That is our big goal and the whole team is working diligently on that," he began to Formel1.de.

Still, Marko acknowledged that every contract has conditions about performance. "Of course every top driver has the option to quit if the performance is not right," he said.

However, he is not worried about that happening. "At the moment, that is not an issue." He also made it clear that the drivers' title is currently a higher priority for the Milton Keynes-based team than winning the constructors' standings. "Yes," Marko answered when asked about the two championships.

'Summer break is the time window'

During the summer break, the so-called 'silly season' begins in Formula 1. Marko therefore says the team must be in a good shape by that point, in order to avoid Verstappen leaving - given that the Dutchman did not make a decision by then. "We are now second in the championship, eight points off the leader. The summer break is still some time away, but that is indeed the time window."

What if Verstappen ends up deciding to leave the Austrian team? "Max is an essential part of Red Bull. Last year, he was the only one who could win the title. He is clearly the best at the moment - if not one the very best ever - and we absolutely want to keep him," Marko continued. "But the whole environment has to be right."

Would Marko himself leave the competition if Verstappen stops being a Red Bull driver? "That could be a good reason," he concluded.

This article was written in collaboration with Nicole Mulder

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