F1 News: Helmut Marko Comments On Max Verstappen's Retirement Threats After 24-Race Season Confirmed
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has spoken out on Max Verstappen's threats of retirement after his current contract comes to an end in 2028.
Formula 1's 2024 season is set to be the busiest ever, with a staggering 24 Grands Prix on the calendar. This dense scheduling has raised concerns over the future of Max Verstappen, the two-time world champion, who has previously voiced his aversion to an over-saturated race calendar. One issue raised by the Dutch driver is the number of races combined with the other sponsor and media commitments.
During an interview with Austria's OE24, Marko commented on Verstappen's stance, saying:
"Max doesn't just say something like that. I hope he serves his contract, which runs until 2028, until the end. Who knows and maybe one day he will come and tell us: 'Thanks, that's it'."
The 25-year-old is currently on his way to his third championship title by winning eight of the ten races so far this season. Verstappen is currently leading the drivers' standings with 255 points followed by his teammate Sergio Perez who is 99 points behind him with 156 points. In response to questions raised on if Verstappen breaking records would entice him to stay in the sport, Marko added:
"Let's see how everything develops. In 2026 there will be new regulations, that could make everything different."
Another significant variable in this equation is the future performance of Red Bull's proprietary power units, the Red Bull Powertrains, which are set to be installed in their cars starting from 2026.
Competitors' hopes for Red Bull's potential downfall due to this project's failure were dismissed by Marko: "I think that is wishful thinking," he told the Austrian medium, suggesting Red Bull's confidence in their internal project.