Max Verstappen faces Helmut Marko ‘burden’ at Red Bull after Toto Wolff talks over Mercedes move

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Max Verstappen just ended his longest run without a Formula 1 podium for seven years on home soil at the Dutch Grand Prix.

For the first time in some months, the Red Bull looked guaranteed to make the podium in the hands of the reigning champion and did so rather comfortably.

With little to play for across the final nine races, Verstappen can now afford to have some fun for the rest of 2025.

His drivers’ championship standing isn’t likely to change, and his hopes of a fifth consecutive triumph are all but over. Now, focus will turn to the 2026 F1 regulations.

Toto Wolff teased Verstappen’s ‘greedy’ manager in talks about a seat for the future, which dominated headlines for a few weeks.

It followed one report that Mercedes’ rivals will ‘definitely’ be interested in Verstappen if he is unhappy at Red Bull after the start of the next season.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen could ‘explode’ if the ‘bad omens’ about Red Bull’s 2026 F1 car come true

Max Verstappen faces Helmut Marko ‘burden’ after Toto Wolff talks over Mercedes contract

Verstappen ‘isn’t better’ than Ayrton Senna or Alain Prost, according to Jacques Villeneuve, who believes that his competition is weaker.

The upcoming winter may be crucial for him to make sure that he’s in contention again next year, otherwise, he may begin to lose interest in the sport.

Verstappen made a promise to Helmut Marko by insisting that he wouldn’t change teams, but now he needs to make sure that his faith is repaid with a good car.

Journalist Ralf Bach believes that not being able to confide in Marko about his Mercedes negotiations is something playing on his mind.

“It’s really annoying that you can’t tell even your biggest confidantes in the team, like your race engineer or Helmut Marko, 100% everything, how the conversations really were with Mercedes, with Toto Wolff, what you really wanted,” he said.

“That’s a burden for someone as loyal as Max. Of course, that’s all gone now. He can think straight again and walk away. You can tell, I think it’s really a mix of everything.”

READ MORE: Max Verstappen’s F1 rivals told how to force him into ‘small mistakes’ in Oscar Piastri comparison

How Max Verstappen reacted to Isack Hadjar’s first Formula 1 podium at the Dutch Grand Prix

After a late retirement for championship contender Lando Norris, Verstappen found himself promoted to second position.

Just behind him in the sister team car was Isack Hadjar, in just his 15th race. He was measured and composed on his way to third, and a maiden rostrum appearance.

He has been considered a front-runner for the second Red Bull seat in 2026 for some time, but his latest performance just ensured that he must be the team’s number one target.

Verstappen reacted to Hadjar’s podium and told him to be ‘very proud’ of it after the race. Next year, there’s a strong chance he’ll be sharing a garage with him.