Max Verstappen may have the opportunity to depart from Red Bull following remarks from team advisor Dr. Helmut Marko, who hinted at potential suspension amid media leaks related to the Christian Horner text scandal.
Verstappen’s contract includes a remarkable clause that permits him to leave Red Bull if Marko, his ally, departs from the team.
This development coincides with team principal Christian Horner’s efforts to reconcile with Verstappen’s manager during a meeting in Dubai, following Horner’s exoneration from allegations of improper conduct toward a female colleague. However, neither Verstappen nor his father, Jos, who advocates for Horner’s departure, participated in these discussions ahead of the upcoming race in Saudi Arabia.
Verstappen is committed to Red Bull until 2028, with an annual salary of at least £50 million. Nevertheless, the intertwining of his future with Marko’s suggests that speculation about a potential move to Mercedes is not entirely unfounded.
Marko, an octogenarian from Austria, serves as the company’s motorsport advisor. Last year, Verstappen, a triple world champion, supported Marko when there were attempts to remove him from his position, actions for which Horner was blamed. It is understood that there is still tension between the two sides stemming from this disagreement.
In January, it was announced that Marko had agreed to a new contract, extending his tenure until the conclusion of the 2026 season.
The connection between Verstappen and Marko through their contract further strengthens their position in the ongoing dispute within the team, which is currently the strongest on the grid.
Verstappen’s father was seen in conversation with Mercedes chief Toto Wolff in Bahrain last week, including a dinner meeting at the luxury Four Seasons hotel in Manama where they were both staying. While it could have been a friendly encounter, as Verstappen’s father mentioned, it’s difficult not to interpret it as a warning to Horner.
Verstappen’s father will not be present in Saudi Arabia as he is participating in a rally in Belgium, and he typically misses some races during the early part of the season, attending around 75% of them.
His absence might not be regretted by all parties, considering the tense atmosphere in the Bahraini paddock, where Verstappen’s father had a heated argument with Horner in the team’s hospitality area. He later told Mail Sport that the team would “implode” if Horner did not step down, accusing him of shifting blame despite being the problem.
It’s believed that Max, who is solely focused on racing rather than politics, desires a peaceful environment to continue winning races uninterrupted. He comfortably won in Bahrain, likely setting him on the path to a fourth consecutive world title.
Regarding the “peace talks” in Dubai, it’s believed they proceeded smoothly, but the sustainability of any ceasefire remains uncertain considering the extent of the conflict.
However, Horner’s position appears relatively stable for the time being, pending the emergence of any new evidence. Accompanied by his wife, Geri Halliwell, in the Gulf before her anticipated return to the UK ahead of the Saudi Arabian race, he is reportedly in good spirits according to his supporters.
Oliver Mintzlaff, who now oversees Red Bull sport and previously served as CEO of RB Leipzig, is expected to be present in the paddock this weekend. Mintzlaff has been portrayed as aligned with the Austrian faction of the energy drinks company, which has expressed concerns about Horner’s expanding influence within the organization. His presence is likely to be seen as a tacit display of solidarity with the besieged team principal.
Adding to Formula One’s controversies, the president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, is now under investigation for allegedly meddling in a race result. According to the BBC, Sulayem is facing scrutiny from his own ethics committee over accusations that he attempted to overturn a penalty imposed on Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin during the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
This allegation, which appears to be politically motivated and has been initiated by both internal and external parties, centers on a dossier compiled by an FIA compliance officer.
My knowledge cut-off date is January 2022.
Regarding the information provided, it’s reported by the BBC that an unnamed whistleblower alleges Ben Sulayem, a former rally driver from the UAE, called FIA vice-president Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamas bin Isa Al Khalifa to overturn a 10-second penalty given to Alonso during a race. An adjudication is anticipated soon, and Sulayem, who has voluntarily provided all his WhatsApp messages, is expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing.
The accusation appears unusual as it involves relatively minor consequences. Initially, Alonso was demoted from third to fourth place due to the penalty, but reversing the decision restored him to the podium, swapping places with George Russell of Mercedes. The FIA has stated that the matter is under internal discussion.
