Marko dismisses Verstappen's title chances as Red Bull struggles mount

Helmut Marko has dismissed any chance of Max Verstappen mounting another late-season title charge, insisting the Red Bull driver cannot overturn his deficit to championship leader Kimi Antonelli. The former advisor pointed to an unstable RB22 and fierce competition from McLaren and Ferrari as obstacles too large to overcome.

Why it matters:

Verstappen heads into the summer break winless across 11 Grands Prix, matching his worst run since 2020. While he famously erased a 104-point gap to Oscar Piastri last year and fell just two points shy of a fifth consecutive crown, Marko argues the 2026 landscape is different. With multiple rivals fielding competitive machinery and Red Bull struggling to stabilize its package, the four-time champion faces a much steeper climb.

The details:

• Verstappen trails Antonelli by 100 points and sits 60 behind runner-up Lewis Hamilton, a gap that left him outside the top two and eligible to trigger a contract exit clause after Hungary.
• The Dutchman has been openly critical of his RB22 during recent weekends, citing erratic upshifts, damping issues, and aerodynamic instability.
• Marko told Austrian media that friction between Verstappen and his engineers is compounding the team's on-track woes.
• Despite calling Red Bull his "second family," reports indicate Verstappen is nearing the end of McLaren negotiations as he weighs a move before his 2028 contract expires.

What's next:

Verstappen has refused to publicly commit his future beyond the summer break, insisting he would announce any decision himself. With Red Bull failing to deliver a consistent winning car and McLaren waiting in the wings, the coming races could determine whether the Dutchman stays to fight or triggers his exit clause.