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JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA — Max Verstappen stood proudly in his usual spot on the top step of the podium at the Jeddah Corniche circuit as the now familiar sound of the Dutch national anthem rang out.
It was the 19th time in the past 20 races that Verstappen had heard “Het Wilhelms” played in his honor. What was so funny was that his mechanic found a good spot on the podium so he could call out to him. After the national anthem, a ripple of applause rang out and the delegates began presenting trophies.
This is Verstappen’s ninth consecutive victory, one step short of the streak he set last year. This was also his 100th podium in F1. But the result comes at the end of a weekend dominated by doubts about Verstappen’s future at Red Bull and whether one of the most potent driver and team combinations in F1 history could part ways at the end of the season. Announced.
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Prior to Friday’s Jeddah, there had been no turmoil surrounding Red Bull, including the accusations against Christian Horner, the dismissal of the complaint, anonymous leaks allegedly related to the ensuing investigation, and suggestions by Verstappen’s father that he might join the team. “I’m torn” — it looked like he was seriously going to kick Max off the team.
The situation has changed after it emerged that long-time Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko is facing intense scrutiny over his future. Red Bull Racing’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, questioned Marko’s involvement in the leaks surrounding the Horner investigation, and suggested he himself might be suspended.
Verstappen drew the line here, pledging his allegiance to Marko and making it clear to the world that if he remained at Red Bull, Marko would too – a man on the opposite side of Horner’s ongoing power struggle at home. team. Verstappen made his feelings clearest to Dutch media, telling him: “I can’t continue without him.”
Just over 24 hours later, when Marko looked up at Verstappen on the podium, things seemed to have calmed down. Marko was in the paddock with Red Bull Managing Director Oliver Mintzlaff ahead of the meeting. Mr Marko later insisted to Sky Germany that they had had a “good conversation” and that there were now “no more rumors”.
“I’ll stay,” Marco said. “I am very grateful for the support of Max Verstappen. Max Verstappen is the only person who understands all this openly and clearly.”
To 3 digits💯 @Max33Verstappen 🏆 pic.twitter.com/x5hKJoIFn6
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) March 9, 2024
The fact that doubts about Marko’s future led to Verstappen’s strong reaction is testament to his influence and importance within the Red Bull system. However, because Marko is an employee of Red Bull GmbH, not Red Bull Racing, Horner said rumors of Marko’s possible suspension were “not news to anyone else. “It was news to the team as well.” “It was an issue between them,” he said. “We were not part of that discussion.”
After the race in Jeddah, Verstappen said it was important for “everyone to keep the peace” within Red Bull before reverting to his stance on Wednesday of wanting to focus on on-track performance rather than off-track drama. . “The positive thing about all this is that it didn’t affect my performance negatively,” said Verstappen, who led Sergio Perez to another 1-2 finish at home.
Red Bull may continue to run tirelessly on the track, but the battle for the top spot is unlikely to end here. No matter how much Horner wants to draw a line under recent events, last week proved that rifts remain within the team.
Horner said after the race that there was no “tension” or “stress” between him and Verstappen, and that there were “no problems” with Marko. However, he also reiterated the achievements of the entire Red Bull team in making it the dominant force it is today. Horner said Red Bull “will listen to whatever Max says, but the team will always make the right decision for the team” regardless of the subject. Horner said at one stage: “The individual is greater than the team.”
That may also apply to Verstappen. This is despite Verstappen being under contract until the end of 2028 and having been at the forefront of Red Bull’s success over the past three years.
Asked if he was worried about losing Verstappen, Horner said: “I can’t say never.” “If drivers don’t want to go somewhere, they’ll go somewhere else,” he said. “I don’t see any reason why anyone would want to get out of this team. He has great support from those around him and is doing a great job with a great car.”
Christian Horner (right) said after the race that there was “no tension or stress” with Max Verstappen (center), and that there were “no problems” with Helmut Marko (left). Told. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
If Verstappen wanted to leave Red Bull at the end of the year, he would probably be giving up a very good chance of winning a fifth world title in 2025. Firstly, assuming a fourth world title can be won this year, and given that the team’s car design next year is an evolution rather than a revolution of this year’s model, the current level of dominance will continue.
The only realistic landing spot for him would be Mercedes, who need to find a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who is bound for Ferrari. Rumors of a surprise move were fueled last week when Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was spotted talking to Verstappen’s father in the Bahrain paddock, and the pair even had dinner together. Wolff played that down in Bahrain, saying the best drivers just want to be in the best cars all the time.
That was the first line he repeated after Saturday’s race in Jeddah. “That gives us the best chance to win races and championships. This is where Max is at the moment,” Wolff said. But he added that Verstappen, his father and his manager Raymond Vermeulen were “very straight, sometimes uncomfortably straight people, and I think that’s for them to decide.” . [on]”
The focus for Wolff, who has always said he is in no rush to decide who will replace Hamilton, is to correct Mercedes’ current form. George Russell finished sixth in Jeddah, about 40 seconds behind Verstappen, while Hamilton returned home in ninth place. Even if they wanted to give the Dutch the fastest car, doing so would require a major change of direction.
Asked if a team move would be good news for F1 given Verstappen’s current level of dominance, Wolff replied: “Yes.
“Before we start dreaming about the future next year, we owe it to George and Lewis to improve the car and give us good equipment.”
So is Verstappen on Wolff’s list, as Hamilton hinted just days before the transfer talk got serious? “Let’s put it this way,” Wolfe said. “I think this is a decision for Max to make and there’s no team up or down the grid that wouldn’t do a handstand to get him in the car.”
It would take a long time for Verstappen, who was at the peak of his powers, to leave Red Bull. As long as he has a viable alternative at Mercedes, especially with the 2026 regulation review looming and a chance for a reset, it remains an ongoing initiative. It will definitely have an impact on the conflict.
(Max Verstappen lead photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images)
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