Marko dismisses Verstappen contract allegations as 'nonsense.'

      Dr. Helmut Marko has dismissed reports from the British specialist press regarding Max Verstappen’s contract exit clause as "nonsense." These reports suggested that the four-time world champion could not leave his contract for 2026 unless he drops from P3 to P5 in the drivers’ championship by the end of June. The timing of these claims is notable, especially considering that the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf has reported that Mercedes’ Toto Wolff is "still flirting with Max Verstappen."

      Marko criticized the information about the June deadline, stating, "The report is nonsense because it’s wrong," in an interview with Auto Bild. However, he did not provide further details, only mentioning, "There is a clause, but it’s contractual and therefore confidential."

      While Verstappen may be contractually bound to Red Bull until 2028, there is also the possibility that the 27-year-old and his management could decide to end the agreement. "Then it would get complicated," Marko acknowledged, recalling that Didi Mateschitz always believed in allowing people the freedom to leave. "We just have to ensure he has no reasons to want to."

      Verstappen's managers include his father Jos, who had a significant clash with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner last year, and Raymond Vermeulen. Vermeulen pointed out that this weekend’s grand prix could be a pivotal moment for the 2025 Red Bull's performance, stating, "We’ll see the truth in Barcelona," as the Circuit de Catalunya is viewed as a crucial benchmark for the car's overall capabilities.