Verstappen reveals conversations with Marko before 2026 F1 season begins
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
12:01, 05 Mar
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Max Verstappen has stated that he is "in touch" with Helmut Marko after the Austrian left his role as motorsport advisor in December 2025.
"I shared so many moments with him, so of course, it will feel a little bit different in the garage."- Max Verstappen
The 82-year-old will be away from the paddock for the first time in over 20 years after leaving the Austrian team just two days after the 2025 season came to an end.
Verstappen and Marko shared a great relationship that saw the Dutchman burst onto the F1 scene in 2015 with Toro Rosso after being part of the Red Bull Junior Team.
But while Verstappen will miss the presence of Marko in the garage, the pair of them have kept in contact away from the track.
Helmut Marko saw Max Verstappen win four drivers' titles after coming through the Red Bull Junior Team - Photo: Race Pictures
"There will maybe be a few fewer Austrian-sided jokes from Helmut!" the 28-year-old joked to GPblog and others during Thursday's media day in Melbourne.
"But I'm in touch with him anyway. Maybe not so much about the details of the car, but just life.
"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, it's a great relationship, and we stay in touch anyway."
Read also
Verstappen tempers expectations in Australia
The 2026 Formula 1 season gets underway with the Australian Grand Prix, but expectations have already been toned down by Verstappen.
After only finishing fourth at the end of pre-season testing in Bahrain, the Dutchman believes that Red Bull may struggle to fight with Mercedes and Ferrari at the front of the grid in Melbourne.
New teammate Isack Hadjar shared a similar view during Thursday's media session, stating that trying to compete with the qualifying pace of other teams "might be a bit tricky".
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