What Red Bull have told Max Verstappen to convince him to reject Mercedes, Helmut Marko’s role explained

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F1 Oversteer understands that Red Bull have now informed star driver Max Verstappen that fundamental changes made to the team were done in an effort to stop him leaving this season.

Max Verstappen has been at the centre of the Formula 1 driver market throughout the 2025 season.

It quickly became clear that Red Bull had been unable to use the winter break to bridge the gap to constructors’ champions McLaren.

Verstappen’s victories at Suzuka and Imola were the outliers rather than the norm, and after the Belgian Grand Prix, the Dutchman now sits 81 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.

Mathematically, Verstappen still has plenty of time to bridge that gap, but realistically, it appears to be almost impossible for the 27-year-old to match Michael Schumacher’s record of winning five consecutive titles.

This led to Verstappen being linked with a move to Mercedes, with both of their drivers out of contract for 2026.

Whispers in the paddock suggest Mercedes could have the best power unit next year, but the situation at Red Bull has evolved over the past few weeks, leading to a situation where it now looks more and more likely that Verstappen will stay for at least one more year.

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

Red Bull tell Max Verstappen they made Christian Horner change for his future

After the British Grand Prix, Red Bull removed Christian Horner as team principal and replaced him with Racing Bulls team principal, Laurent Mekies.

Communications chief Paul Smith and marketing boss Oliver Hughes were close allies of Horner and also left Red Bull when the team principal was removed from his position as team principal.

F1 Oversteer understands that Max Verstappen has been told by Red Bull that these changes were made with him in mind.

They want to make sure the atmosphere within the team is focused on improvement without the distraction of tensions between Horner and Verstappen’s camp.

It’s also understood by F1 Oversteer that chief advisor Helmut Marko has informed Verstappen that he should stay.

Marko is very influential to Verstappen, having been the person who plucked him from junior single-seater racing to drive for Toro Rosso as a 17-year-old.

F1 Oversteer believes that Marko’s message to Verstappen that he should remain at Red Bull for next season has played a big part in his thinking.

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

How the Formula 1 driver market could shake out as Max Verstappen looks set to stay at Red Bull

There were previous suggestions that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff didn’t push that hard to sign Verstappen this year, with his focus on potentially trying to sign the 27-year-old for 2027.

Verstappen’s get-out clause expired after the Belgian Grand Prix, with George Russell unable to catch him before the upcoming summer break.

The Dutchman may never publicly announce that he’s staying at Red Bull, as his current deal runs until 2028.

However, it does mean that Russell’s expected contract renewal can be confirmed shortly, and it’s likely that Kimi Antonelli will secure at least another year at Mercedes alongside him.

The only seats still to be decided once this portion of the F1 driver market is confirmed are at Cadillac, Racing Bulls, Alpine and in the second seat next to Verstappen.

Those decisions are unlikely to be made in the summer break, especially as Franco Colapinto’s position alongside Pierre Gasly comes under increasing pressure.