Marko suggests that keeping Verstappen might be 'challenging'.

      "There are always performance clauses."

      Red Bull might face challenges in retaining Max Verstappen if the team fails to return to its former success. This candid statement comes from advisor Dr. Helmut Marko, following McLaren CEO Zak Brown's acknowledgment of reaching out to Verstappen’s management while speculating about a potential 2026 transfer to Mercedes for the four-time world champion.

      "Apparently, he (Brown) contacted one of our drivers last week," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner mentioned during an interview with Viaplay in Shanghai. "If he is so satisfied with his own drivers, why would he reach out to one of ours?"

      Marko brushed aside Brown’s statements as typical Formula 1 "antics," while Horner referred to them as "mere talk." However, Brown also noted that Verstappen has been rumored to have interest in moving to Aston Martin, where he would reunite with Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s recently departed design star.

      Marko emphasized that Verstappen’s primary aim is to achieve victory. "Max desires a car that can consistently win," the 81-year-old stated. "If we are unable to provide him with that, there are always performance clauses, making it challenging. But it’s only the second race of the season," Marko stated to Sky Deutschland. "The situation isn’t as bleak as Zak would prefer to portray."

      Nevertheless, it’s evident that Verstappen is dissatisfied with the current circumstances, having qualified ahead of Oscar Piastri for the sprint race but then losing ground towards the end due to tire degradation. "I didn’t expect anything different," the 27-year-old remarked to Viaplay. "Obviously, this isn’t what you want, but it is the reality."