Helmut Marko fears Max Verstappen exit after Red Bull’s Bahrain GP struggles
Is Max Verst✤appen's Red Bull future even more uncertain after a poor Bah🐷rain Grand Prix?

Helmut Marko has expressed fears over 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen wanting to leave Red Bull amid their torrid F1 Bahrain Grand Prix performance.
Verstappen finished sixth in Sunday’s race in Bahrain, 34.3s behind race winner168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Oscar Piastri.
Without the Safety Car, the result could have 𓆏been much worse for Verstappen and Red Bull.
Two slow pit stops and a switch to the unfavoured hard tyre meant that Verstappen struggled to challenge Alpine’s 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Pierre Gasly and Haas’ 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Esteban Ocon, who were running ahead of him dur𝄹ing th🌸e middle part of the race.
Despite Red Bull’s lack of performance relative to McLaren in the early part of the year, Verstappen remains in titl෴e contention.
Verstappen is just eight points behind Lando Norris after four 📖rounds in 2025.
In an interview with Sky Germany after the race, Marko wasꦗ asked how worried he was that Verstappen could decide to leave the team if there were no signs of improvement.
“Those are very big,” Marko replied. “Improvements have to be made in the near future so that he🔯 has a car he can win with.
“It shouldn’t be a fluke, like in the rain in Brazil or in Japan. There the track came to him and he set a magic lap. There has t꧑o be a stable ba𒀰se.”
While Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull unt🅘il the end of 2028, his future has continued to be a hot topic since the start of last year.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff spoke publicly about being interested in signing Verstappen as their replacement for 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton.
However, with Verstappen unwilling 🍌tꦛo make the move, Kimi Antonelli was handed the drive.
For 2026, Mercedes have still yet to decide th𓆉eir driver line-up.
Given Russell’s starr♕ing performances, his future is likely guaranteed, while Antonelli is seen as Mercedes’ very own Verstappen-like talent.
Marko demands progress
With McLaren ꦏenjoying a strong start to the season, Verstappen’s position in the championship standings will only likely worsen as the year progresses.
Marko 🦂has ruled out any serious challenge for the title based on Red Bull’s cur😼rent level of performance.
“It is clear: we need to make progress,” Marko added. “Not progress in points, but on the sto꧟pwatch.
“And with a performance like we are putting in now, unꦡfortunately, nothing will come of the world champion𝄹ship.”

With a sharp eye for F1’s controversies and storylines, Connor is the heartbeat of our unbias𓃲ed reporti꧅ng.