Helmut Marko, Red Bull F1’s motorsports adviser, says the long-term deal between Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing is an important part of the negotiations with potential engine makers-perhaps Porsche.
Last month, active F1 World Champion Max Verstappen extended his contract with Red Bull Racing until 2028. The seven-year contract, which team representative Christian Horner calls “a serious statement of determination,” is considered to be the longest contract between a team and a driver in F1 history.
Red Bull is pleased to have secured the service of star driver Max Verstappen for a long time, but according to Helmut Marko, it also convinced potential engine makers to partner with Red Bull. Clarified that it is an important factor.
“Max is an important link in chess games,” Helmut Marko told Formula 1.
“It’s no wonder manufacturers take that into account, so it was important for Red Bull to say,’Our team is committed to the best drivers until 2028.'”
Helmut Marko clearly suggests negotiations between Red Bull and Porsche. Porsche is expected to be approved by its parent company Volkswagen next week for an F1 program with an engine partnership with Red Bull Powertrains.
Helmut Marko added, “If someone like Max is on the camp, it has a positive effect on other members of the team and team partners.”
However, the long-term contract between Red Bull and Max Verstappen is not 100% guaranteed to be on the team until 2028.
In fact, Max Verstappen’s deal triggers if Red Bull suffers a significant performance degradation during the season, as in 2014, the first year of the F1 hybrid era, or if Helmut Marko “crashes”. It is clear that there is an escape clause to be done.
“If Red Bull experiences some sort of” crash “as in 2014, of course there is an escape clause,” Helmut Marko said.
Category: Category: F1 / Red bull / Porsche / Max Verstappen
