Helmut Marko insists Red Bull are confident of being able to keep hold of star racer Max Verstappen. The Dutchman has spent his entire Formula 1 career under the team's umbrella and become a four-time champion within as many seasons since 2021. And he has a contract until 2028, which he signed after the first of those title successes. Yet, there remains a consistent stream of rumours and stories linking him with a move away. First, at the height of Red Bull's internal conflict in the early months of 2024, there was the approach from Mercedes as team boss Toto Wolff tried to take advantage of the chaos.

He was unsuccessful but made it clear he will remain in contact with Verstappen's father Jos and manager Raymond Vermeulen. And Wolff is likely to face stern competition should the Dutchman become available, with Aston Martin also clearly keen. Owner Lawrence Stroll wants to turn the team into perennial title contenders and would leap at the chance to sign the driver who has dominated the sport in recent years. Though an Aston Martin spokesperson flatly denied the claim that a £1billion contract offer has been green-lit by Stroll, the interest is obvious.

Verstappen has made it clear that, to date, he has given no serious thought to the idea of leaving Red Bull. But that could change in the coming years if Red Bull cannot give him a car in which he can continue to win championships. Red Bull are aware of that danger, but it also means they are know exactly what they need to do in order to avoid the risk of losing their star man to a rival team. And long-serving team adviser Marko, one of Verstappen's closest allies in the F1 paddock, said he believes not only that the team can keep hold of the 27-year-old, but also that a fifth consecutive championship success is on the way.

"I don't comment on the content of the contract, but in any case, we are confident that we can provide Max with a good car," the Austrian told Sport Bild. "Our engineers have made good progress with the data. We are optimistic. "[Interest from Mercedes and Aston Martin] is all well and good, but Max has a contract with us until the end of 2028. Especially because I know how loyal and grateful he is to Red Bull. That is why he will also be a Red Bull driver in 2026, and as a five-time world champion.".

Red Bull are, for the first time, building their own engines ahead of the new set of regulations coming into force from that 2026 season. How successful they are in creating a competitive power unit that can match those built by more experienced manufacturers like Mercedes, Ferrari and Honda is likely to have a significant bearing on Verstappen's future. Catch all the action from Formula One on Sky Sports and get exclusive access to races, qualifying and much more for every Grand Prix. From Max Verstappen to Lewis Hamilton, you won't miss a lap on Sky Sports.