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Marko declares Max Verstappen Red Bull period OVER
Red Bull chief advisor Helmut Marko has officially declared Max Verstappen’s dominant period with the team as ‘over’, citing that the world championship fight is done for 2025.
Verstappen claimed four consecutive world championship titles between 2021-2024, in a stunning period of dominance in which he broke a plethora of F1 records.
However, a record-equalling fifth consecutive title now looks to be out of reach, as the Dutchman sits 69 points behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri with 12 races left in the season.
It means that the period of Red Bull-Verstappen dominance may now be over, and the 27-year-old may have to become used to more sporadic race victories if he is to stay at Red Bull.
“The championship is still over,” Marko told oe24. “It’s now only between Norris and Piastri, with Norris making an impressive comeback with two sensational races.”
Marko has previously stated that the constructors’ championship fight is also over for 2025, with Red Bull sat down in fourth in those standings.
Will Verstappen leave Red Bull?
Verstappen, of course, may not stick around at Red Bull to see their new era, with a new team principal taking over following Christian Horner’s sacking, and a new plan to build their own power units in partnership with Ford happening from 2026.The team that has been most closely linked with signing Verstappen for when new regulations come sweeping into the sport has been Mercedes, with Toto Wolff confirming that discussions have taken place between the two parties.
Current Mercedes driver George Russell has also hinted that talks between his team and arch nemesis Verstappen have been taking place, as he worries for his future beyond the end of his contract that expires in 2025.Verstappen’s Red Bull deal doesn’t expire until 2028, but there are rumours of exit clauses that would allow him to get out of that contract. However, there has been no suggestion from him or his team that he will leave Red Bull ahead of 2026.One thing that is for certain, however, is that the period of Verstappen-Red Bull dominance is well and truly over, as backed up by Marko’s comments.
Marko Declares Max Verstappen–Red Bull Period OVER
Red Bull Racing’s era of dominance spearheaded by Max Verstappen appears to have officially come to an end, according to the team’s outspoken advisor Helmut Marko. In a candid interview, Marko admitted that the world championship battle for 2025 is already out of reach for Verstappen, marking a significant shift in the Formula 1 power dynamic after four years of utter supremacy.
Between 2021 and 2024, Verstappen achieved a remarkable feat by winning four consecutive world titles, rewriting the history books and becoming one of the sport’s most dominant forces. His partnership with Red Bull seemed almost unstoppable, with the Dutch driver securing records for most wins in a season and most consecutive victories.
However, the once-dominant combination of Verstappen and Red Bull appears to have hit a wall in 2025. With 12 races remaining in the season, Verstappen finds himself trailing Oscar Piastri of McLaren by a daunting 69 points in the drivers’ standings. Piastri, along with his teammate Lando Norris, has helped McLaren emerge as the dominant team, ending Red Bull’s stranglehold on the grid.
“The championship is still over,” Marko told Austrian outlet oe24. “It’s now only between Norris and Piastri, with Norris making an impressive comeback with two sensational races.”
Marko’s admission is a major turning point in the 2025 season. For the first time since the 2021 regulation changes that favored Red Bull’s aggressive development philosophy, the team is no longer leading the pack. Red Bull is currently languishing in fourth place in the constructors’ championship, behind McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari — a far cry from their dominant 2023 and 2024 campaigns.
The shift in fortunes has raised questions about Verstappen’s future at Red Bull. With Christian Horner no longer serving as team principal following his dismissal earlier this year, and with Red Bull’s plans to build its own power unit in partnership with Ford for the 2026 season, the team is undergoing a transition that may not suit the reigning world champion.
Speculation has intensified that Verstappen could make a shock switch to Mercedes. The German manufacturer is expected to benefit significantly from the new regulations in 2026, and team boss Toto Wolff has publicly confirmed that discussions have taken place with Verstappen’s camp.
Adding to the intrigue, current Mercedes driver George Russell has hinted at the possibility of Verstappen joining the team, expressing concern about his own contract, which is set to expire at the end of the 2025 season. If Verstappen does make the move, it could set up one of the most fascinating team pairings in modern F1 history.
Although Verstappen’s current contract with Red Bull runs until 2028, there are persistent rumors of performance-based exit clauses that could allow him to walk away early. So far, neither Verstappen nor Red Bull have confirmed any intention to part ways before 2026. But the uncertainty surrounding the team’s direction and competitiveness may influence the Dutch star’s decision.
Regardless of whether Verstappen stays or leaves, Marko’s comments signal the end of an era. The Red Bull-Verstappen era that dominated the early 2020s is no longer the benchmark in Formula 1. As McLaren rises and new regulations loom, the grid is bracing for a power shift.
“One thing is for certain,” Marko concluded, “our dominance is over. We now have to fight race by race, point by point.”
For Verstappen, the coming months will be critical — not only in terms of salvaging victories in 2025 but also in deciding what the next chapter of his Formula 1 career will look like.
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