P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has explained why the team is “counting” on Max Verstappen being back at the front of the F1 field next year.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko believes Max Verstappen will bounce back to the front of the Formula 1 field next year. The team and Verstappen have had a challenging 2025 season so far, with just two wins. Verstappen’s commitment to Red Bull has been confirmed amid rumors about his future. Red Bull is cautiously optimistic about the 2026 season under new technical regulations. Marko emphasized the importance of Verstappen’s performance in putting an end to speculations of joining a rival team. Additionally, Red Bull is gearing up for the 2026 season with a new engine developed in collaboration with Ford. The team is hopeful that F1 will not experience dominance similar to Mercedes in 2014, and Marko jokes that Verstappen’s enthusiasm for GT3 and Sim-Racing keeps him content.






