If Helmut Marko Left Red Bull, Will Max Verstappen Utilize Exit Clause?

Witnessing the futility of their maneuvers, the people behind the ostensibly failed plot against Christian Horner are resorting to their final option. Contract of Max Verstappen has a particular condition that several media sites connected to Jos Verstappen, such F1 Insider and De Telegraaf, are speculating about. Verstappen is calling for the resignation of the Red Bull Racing team chief.

This is not a performance- or technical-related condition; rather, it states that he can walk away from Mercedes at any time if his F1 adviser, Helmut Marko, quits or gets dismissed. Marko signed him to drive a Toro Rosso in the 2015 World Championship.

There is no denying the existence of a contractual clause safeguarding his allegiance to a significant debtor who, along with his father, has constituted the fundamental essence of the Dutchman during the past nine years.

That is one thing to say that he is required to exercise it, or if he chooses to, as these media outlets seem to assume. Undoubtedly, one of the most widely circulated rumors in global media is that he will depart in 2025.

And to Toto Wollf, who has been at odds with Horner for years—particularly following the 2021 World Championship and the event that saw Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes overthrown after eight years of sporting despotism—rubs his hands together in support of this departure amid internal strife, feeling that Horner and Red Bull are about to expire.

The hug after the triumph

However, sometimes deeds speak louder than words, and Max Verstappen went straight to warmly greet the team leader—the person with whom he is said to be at odds. Jose María Rubio took this picture of the driver hugging Horner and placing his left hand on Red Bull Racing owner Chalerm Yoovidhya’s shoulder.

Yoovidhya is the one who owns the firm and can select what he wants out of the team. Verstappen may have noticed, but Horner will remain in his role for the time being, receiving all of the love and affection from the company’s founder’s son.

Although the driver did not show the same warmth toward Max’s representative, Raymond Vermeulen, it appears that something is changing in that circle. The three-time champion, who is currently running in fourth and fifth place in an unbeatable car, has realized that his career comes before his personal desires.

Nobody forfeits a chance to win five straight championships to support a Mercedes team that is currently the third in Formula One and doesn’t appear to be on the winning track this year. The rules won’t alter significantly in 2025, either.

One other item is that in 2026, the engines will be changed and the electric power will be increased to 475 horsepower, which is half of what each car would deliver. Mercedes is at the forefront of this technology, which might see the introduction of RB Powertrains, the Red Bull-founded company that began as an engine supplier to Ford in Formula One.

Hamilton has already completed it.

Professional drivers have always avoided their fathers; Lewis Hamilton and his mentor Anthony did just that back in 2010.

“My heart was wounded that the choice wasn’t reached in unison. We had a father-son relationship that began when he was eight years old and went something like this. Be careful, I love you, do your best. I would raise his hand at every race, he said years later. However, that all ended in 2010.”

“Because I didn’t want Lewis to fail, I was pushing myself too hard without considering how it would affect me in our relationship. Due to his knowledge of Lewis’ brilliance,” Anthony said, “I never allowed him to become distracted and I never told him to rest, relax, and let’s not do this. It was always total pressure.” Their connection is now fantastic once more.

Families and professional athletes don’t always get along, but many athletes have experienced this—with their father or uncle raising them from an early age—until they make the decision to go it alone. Not that Max Verstappen will do it with Jos, but it is conceivable if their goals no longer align.