P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen’s Red Bull ‘mistrust’, 2026 car is getting ‘worse’
Helmut Marko, former Red Bull advisor, believes that Max Verstappen’s lack of trust in the team’s 2026 car has diminished the ‘Max factor’.
He warned that recent updates to the car seemed to have made it worse, not better, as seen in the Japanese Grand Prix.
Verstappen has expressed dissatisfaction and even mentioned potentially leaving the sport if the racing doesn’t suit him.
The departure of key figures like Christian Horner, Adrian Newey, and now Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s race engineer, paints a picture of change within the team.
Marko emphasized the importance of trust between driver and car for optimal performance, hoping Red Bull will regain its competitive edge during the European season.
