Could Verstappen leave Red Bull? Marko answers

Red Bull Racing is trailing McLaren and Mercedes after the first two Grands Prix of the year. This is worrying not only with regard to the Austrian F1 team's chances in both championships, but also in view of the performance clauses in Max Verstappen's contract. Helmut Marko stresses that it is still early, but that it is vital that Red Bull can offer the reigning world champion a fast car.

"Max wants a car that can always win. There are always performance clauses, and if we cannot deliver that, it will be difficult [to retain Verstappen]," Marko told ServusTV, although he added that it's very early in the current season since, "It is only the second race." Still, it is clear that Red Bull must act quickly to keep the four-time world champion at the Austrian team for the future.

At the Chinese Grand Prix, it became painfully clear how much pace Red Bull is currently lacking. McLaren finished the race with a one-two led by Oscar Piastri from Lando Norris, while Verstappen was unable to even score a podium, crossing the finish line in fourth place, mitigating the damage to his championship hopes. However, the difference with race winner Piastri was still of almost 17 seconds, despite a flawless performance by the Dutchman.

"We have a technical deficit," Marko noted. "We have to figure out how to build a winning car again and within what time frame." To that end, a crisis meeting is scheduled at the headquarters in Milton Keynes, which Verstappen will also attend. However, the 81-year-old Austrian does not expect a miracle: "A quick update would be nice, but you can't rely on that."