Helmut Marko has expressed fears over 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Max Verstappen wanting to leave Red Bull amid their torrid F1 Bahrain Grand Prix performance.

Verstappen finished sixth in Sunday’s race in Bahrain, 34.3s behind race winner168澳洲5最新开奖结果: Oscar Piastri.

Without the Safety Car, the result could have be⭕en much worse for Verstappen and Red Bull.

Two slow pit stops and a switch to the unfavoured hard tyre meant that Verstappen struggled to challenge Alpine’s 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Pierre Gasly and Haas’ 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Esteban Ocon🐼, who were running ahead of him during the middle ജpart of the race.

Despite Red Bull’s lack of performance relative to McLaren in the early par🃏t🍸 of the year, Verstappen remains in title contention.

Verstappen is just eight points behind La🏅ndo Norris after four 🎉rounds in 2025.

In an interview with Sky Germany after the race, Marko was asked how worried he was that Verstappen could decide to leave the team if there were no signs ✨of improv꧂ement.

“Those are ver𓆉y big,” Marko replied. “Improvements have to ꦺbe made in the near future so that he has a car he can win with.

“It shoul🅷dn’t be a fluke, like in the rain in Brazil or in Japan.꧟ There the track came to him and he set a magic lap. There has to be a stable base.”

While Verstappe🔥n is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, his future has continued to be a hot topic since the start of last year.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff spoke publicly about being interested in signing Verstappen as their replacement for 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lewis Hamilton.

However, with Verstappen unwilling to ma🐲ke the move, Kimi Antonelli was handed the drive.

For 2026, Mercedes have still yet to decide their d𒁃river line-up.

Given Ruౠssell’s starring performances, his future is lꦿikely guaranteed, while Antonelli is seen as Mercedes’ very own Verstappen-like talent.

Marko demands progress

With McLaren enjoying a strong start to the season, Verstappen’s position in the champions♋hip standings꧃ will only likely worsen as the year progresses.

Markoꩵ has ruled out any serious challenge for the title based on Red Bull’s current level of performance.

“It is clear: we need to make progress,” Marko added. “Not progress in points, but o🐷n the stopwatch.

“And with a performance like we are putting in 🎐now, unfor🥀tunately, nothing will come of the world championship.”