“Max Can Meet up with Whoever He Wants,” Helmut Marko Gives Unbothered Response on Max Verstappen’s Toto Wolff Meet Rumors

Helmut Marko remains tight-lipped on the possibility of Max Verstappen meeting with Toto Wolff at Sardinia in the previous weeks.

“Max Can Meet up with Whoever He Wants,” Helmut Marko Gives Unbothered Response on Max Verstappen’s Toto Wolff Meet Rumors

Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko (via Red Bull), Toto Wolff (via Getty)

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Max Verstappen continues to be the center of rumors about wanting to exit Red Bull and join Mercedes as soon as the 2026 season. Verstappen is believed to reconsider his departure from Milton Keynes after the squad fired Christian Horner. Regardless, the Dutchman reportedly met up with Toto Wolff in Sardinia as both their private jets were on the same island on the same day. Now, Helmut Marko issued an uninterested statement about the 27-year-old’s alleged meetup with the Mercedes boss.

Helmut Marko had previously acknowledged that Max Verstappen was possibly negotiating a contract with Mercedes amidst Red Bull’s tumultuous form. However, Verstappen’s long-term loyalty to the team made them believe that he was in it for the long run. But recent activities suggest that the 27-year-old is looking at his options to exit the Austrian outfit, even though Christian Horner has been axed from the squad.

Helmut Marko wasn’t mincing his words while criticizing the rumors of Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff‘s meeting in Sardinia. Some people downplayed the meetup as a mere coincidence, as Verstappen didn’t visit to negotiate a Mercedes contract. However, Marko pointed out that the reigning world champion could meet whoever he wants without any questions asked.

Max can meet up with whoever he wants.

Helmut Marko told OE24

Marko pointed out that Red Bull still had a contract with Max Verstappen at least until the end of the 2028 season. Although multiple exit clauses are rumored to exist in the Dutchman’s clause, he ideally would still want to finish his career with the same team. Still, the Austrian reckoned that the team could only hope that the 27-year-old stays true to the contract and remains with the team at least until his contract ends.

We have a contract that is still valid until 2028, and we just assume that Max will stay with us for that time.

Helmut Marko added

Helmut Marko claims Max Verstappen ‘informed’ about Christian Horner’s sudden firing

Max Verstappen had refused to add to the ongoing rumors of his switch to Mercedes by the 2026 season. This response could be taken in two different ways, but the Dutchman did not officially deny the possibility of having negotiations. Still, Verstappen remains a crucial figure at Milton Keynes as Helmut Marko claims that the former was informed well in advance about the firing of Christian Horner. This means that Milton Keynes kept the Dutchman informed about the situation, so he doesn’t unexpectedly confirm his contract with Mercedes.

Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko (via Getty)
Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko (via Getty)

Helmut Marko asserted that Max Verstappen was informed about all the decisions that the team was going to take in terms of their leadership. Although the speculations have continued to persist and hint at a switch in teams already done for the 27-year-old, Marko refuses to comment on the matter further. This means that the 81-year-old still hopes that the four-time champion reconsiders his decisions and continues racing for Red Bull.

Max was certainly informed about that, but beyond that I don’t want to say anything about that.

Helmut Marko noted

Time will tell if Max Verstappen’s move to Mercedes actually happens or fizzles out as many other rumors in the past have. For now, the Dutchman will focus on ending his 2025 season on a high with the team that has given him everything in Formula 1. Verstappen has already lost hope on fighting for the drivers’ title this season as the team’s performance remains nothing to write a story about.

Read More: F1 Insider Declares Christian Horner’s Exit Not ‘Good News’ for Red Bull