Helmut Marko tells Max Verstappen what he ‘would not have’ at Mercedes if he decided to ditch Red Bull

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Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen faces a crucial decision about his Formula 1 future very soon.

Max Verstappen is unsurprisingly the most in-demand driver in the paddock right now.

The Dutchman has won four consecutive drivers’ championships, although his quest to win a fifth this season is looking more and more difficult.

Red Bull have been slowly falling away from the likes of McLaren this year, and the 27-year-old could only qualify seventh for the Austrian Grand Prix.

Verstappen was caught out by Pierre Gasly’s late spin, but admitted that the best he could have achieved was a position on the second row behind Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc.

The question Verstappen now faces is which team is going to give him the best chance to win a championship when Formula 1’s new regulations are introduced next year.

Mercedes are very keen on signing Verstappen, with George Russell even admitting during the current race weekend that talks have taken place.

Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s chief advisor, is understandably worried about losing Verstappen.

He’s warned the Dutchman that deciding to join Mercedes next season might not be such a good idea.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Helmut Marko warns Max Verstappen about a lack of ‘freedom’ at Mercedes

Marko was speaking to Sky Italia after a disappointing qualifying performance from Red Bull in Austria.

Verstappen will start alongside Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto on Sunday, while Yuki Tsunoda faces another pointless weekend since his promotion from Racing Bulls after being eliminated in Q1.

Asked about Verstappen’s future, Marko said: “This story that everyone wants [to sign] Max is becoming boring.

“He has a contract with us until 2028, and as long as we give him a competitive car, there is no reason why he should leave.

“With us, he has a lot of freedom, which he would not have with Mercedes”

READ MORE: Who is Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko? Everything to know

Max Verstappen unconvinced by Mercedes 2026 engine advantage

One of the most important aspects of next season’s changing regulations is the new power units.

Each of the five engine manufacturers are required to build a new hybrid power unit that will utilise a far higher proportion of electrical energy.

Red Bull are building their own power units for the first time, which has triggered suggestions that the team might be a step behind their rivals already.

Verstappen’s camp are worried about next season at Red Bull, with Horner’s team working alongside Ford to create their new power unit.

However, Verstappen is said to be unconvinced by rumours about Mercedes, with many in the paddock already suggesting that they’ll be the class leaders in developing their engine for the next era of the sport.

All this tells us is that very little is known about how the pecking order is going to look next season.

For that reason, Verstappen may be wise to listen to Marko’s warnings and stay put for now.

However, Marko is also sharing that view about Verstappen’s potential lack of freedom at Mercedes because, without the four-time world champion, they would currently be sitting last in the constructors’ championship.