Marko is optimistic that the speculation surrounding Verstappen will subside following the Imola event.

      An update regarding the car that could be crucial

      Dr. Helmut Marko is eager for the ongoing speculation regarding Max Verstappen's future to settle down. With rumors linking the four-time world champion to teams such as Mercedes, Aston Martin, and even McLaren, Ferrari, or Alpine, Verstappen remained composed during the Saudi Arabian race.

      When asked about Marko's concerns following Bahrain that Verstappen might leave, the 27-year-old responded, "I honestly don’t know. Naturally, Bahrain wasn’t a great weekend for us, and I believe we were all quite disappointed. However, to be truthful, many people are discussing it, except for me." He then advised lead British commentator David Croft, "You should focus on commentating, and I’ll focus on driving."

      Verstappen did not deny that his manager, Raymond Vermeulen, had a somewhat tense discussion with Marko right after the chaotic Bahrain Grand Prix. "To my knowledge, they were just discussing everything, which I believe is acceptable," he explained to reporters. "If someone interprets it differently, that's common. I think we were all frustrated with the outcome and the issues that arose during the race."

      Marko has also recently acknowledged when certain performance-related contract exit clauses may be activated, noting that this could be around the "summer." The 81-year-old stated to the Kleine Zeitung newspaper, "I've mentioned it numerous times: Max’s main objective is the world championship. If we provide him with the car he requires for that, the question of a switch won’t even be a consideration."

      However, Marko expressed his concerns, admitting that both the upcoming races in Jeddah and Miami "will be very challenging for us." The first significant car upgrade is expected to be introduced at Imola, following the races in Jeddah and Miami. "If we want to remain in the championship fight, we must secure a podium finish in the next three races," Marko asserted.