Jos Verstappen calls out 'bulls***' Schumacher claims over Marko Red Bull exit

Schumacher had dissected Red Bull's difficult start to the 2026 season, with the team sat in P6 in the Constructors' standings, and Verstappen threatening to leave F1 altogether over the 'Mario Kart' regulations.

Specifically, the former Williams driver pointed at Marko's departure as a key reason for Red Bull's struggles - the 82-year-old left the Milton Keynes team in December 2025 after 20 years serving as top advisor.

Marko, along with father Jos, have been two key pillars in Verstappen's F1 career, with another being race engineer Gianpiero 'GP' Lambiase, who was announced last week to be joining McLaren no later than 2028.

Lambiase and Marko's departures are among the latest in a long line of high-profile exits from Red Bull.

Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Schumacher reflected on Red Bull's tough 2026 so far.

He said: "I think you just have to be honest now and say that Red Bull is not really attractive in the current situation. It is again a long-term project at the moment. First of all, there is the engine development, which they have done well by the way.”

“But the team itself is a bit chaotic at the moment; it goes in all directions. There is no clear communication to the outside world.

“Helmut Marko is also missing as a figure to give some kind of guidance.”

Verstappen Sr. dismissed the commentary on X with a clear response to Schumacher.

Jos simply said: "Ralf talks a lot of bulls***."

At the season-opener in Melbourne, Verstappen said: "I shared so many moments with him so, of course, it will feel a little bit different in the garage, but you also have to just look ahead.

“You have to think about performance but at the same time, like I said, great relationship and we stay in touch anyway.”

More recently, Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies revealed Marko is still "very open and available to us," with team members, including drivers and Mekies himself, still receiving "guidance" from the former head of Red Bull's young driver programme.

Mekies said: "You can’t turn the page of Helmut that has been building this young driver programme for two decades with incredible success.

"You don’t turn that page quickly. So we are living on his legacy right now, and as I said, he’s behind the corners if we need him.”