Max Verstappen is set to enter his 10th Formula 1 season as a Red Bull Racing driver in 2025.
The only partnership that had lasted longer than Max Verstappen and Red Bull on the grid has just come to an end.
Lewis Hamilton has swapped Mercedes for Ferrari, handing that particular accolade to the Dutchman.
It’s proved to be a fruitful partnership for both parties, with Red Bull winning two Constructors’ Championships and Verstappen currently on a run of four consecutive titles.
Verstappen may face a tougher task continuing that streak in 2025 with McLaren and Ferrari appearing to have an advantage over the Milton Keynes-based team.
However, life could have been very different for the 27-year-old, with Mercedes keen to sign Verstappen as a teenager.
Mercedes still want Verstappen but getting him to cut his time with Red Bull short given his current deal runs until the end of 2028 may prove tricky.
Chief advisor Helmut Marko was pivotal to Verstappen signing him and staying at Red Bull.
Speaking on The F2 Show, Alex Jacques has shared what Marko did that has made Verstappen so loyal to the team.
Helmut Marko responsible for Max Verstappen being so loyal to Red Bull
Jacques was asked if he was upset never to see Verstappen race in Formula 2 during his racing career.
He explained his feelings on the subject, before talking about why Red Bull made the right call skipping that step altogether.
Jacques said: “Yes and no [I was upset].
“You never want to play what if and I think it was just an incredibly clever move to make sure that he learned in Formula 1. It was a smart thing to do and a brilliant negotiating ploy from Helmut Marko.
“I firmly believe that is why Verstappen has been so loyal to Helmut Marko.
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“I think he knows from his father’s career that you can have all the talent in the world but if you don’t have the right environment, there are so many sliding doors moments with Formula 1 that we take for granted and I think that Max is aware that you just never know when the right time is.
“And to get to Formula 1 so quickly, yeah, so Verstappen in Formula 2 would have been box office but yeah, I was very, very happy with the seasons we got instead.”
Helmut Marko still searching for the next Max Verstappen
Verstappen has said that Marko staying at Red Bull is vital to his future given how important his relationship is with the Austrian.
However, beyond his current deal, it’s not known how much longer Verstappen wants to race in Formula 1.
He’s keen to pursue other projects – such as his sim racing team – and tested a GT3 car at Portimao in December once the F1 had finished.
READ MORE: Who is Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko? Everything to know
Marko will therefore know that he needs to find the next Verstappen quickly to avoid Red Bull falling behind their rivals.
Liam Lawson is the next driver being thrust into the limelight at Red Bull from their academy to see if he’s up to scratch.
Marko has been impressed by Arvid Lindblad who will race in Formula 2 this year and also has a big fan in team principal Christian Horner.
However, whichever driver eventually ends up replacing the Dutchman, the pressure will be on their shoulders to follow in the footsteps of one of the sport’s best drivers.
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