Helmut Marko unclear over Max Verstappen's future

Helmut Marko unclear over Max Verstappen's future ............................... Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has admitted that Max Verstappen's future with the team is uncertain beyond 2025. While Marko assured that the Dutch three-time Formula 1 champion will still be racing for the team in 2025, he acknowledged that it is difficult to predict what will happen in 2026. ‘Next year he will be driving for Red Bull Racing. But 2026 is too far away to tell and, for now, our focus is on the world championship in 2024,’ he said in a recent interview, hinting that the situation at the team is more complicated than it appears. The 2024 season has not been favourable for Red Bull, especially in the second half of the year. Verstappen, once a key player in the team's dominance, has seen his performance drop, as has that of team-mate Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez. Both drivers have struggled to stay in contention for podiums, but have been overtaken by Ferrari and McLaren, whose drivers Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris have taken the lead. This situation has led to tensions within the team, prompting Max's father Jos Verstappen to express his frustration. According to Jos, his son warned the team about problems with the RB20 from the start of the season, especially in terms of the car's balance. However, according to his account, Red Bull failed to address these concerns in a timely manner. ‘Max started complaining seriously about the balance about three months ago. But the team didn't believe him or realise it was true. Now it's too late,’ Jos said in a podcast, underlining the seriousness of the problem facing Red Bull. Marko and the team are now under pressure to correct course, as doubts over Verstappen's future at the team continue to grow.