Things aren't looking great between Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing right now, and Helmut Marko isn't holding back about it. The former Red Bull advisor has come out and admitted that the relationship between the four-time world champion and the team is definitely on shaky ground. Throughout 2026, Verstappen's been pretty vocal about his frustrations with Red Bull's calls, and it's clear the tension has been building for a while now.

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The issues started showing up earlier in the season. During the Canadian Grand Prix, Verstappen was forced to drive with a setup he knew wouldn't work, which team boss Laurent Mekies later called a 'told you so' moment. Then at Silverstone, the driver wanted a completely fresh power unit after qualifying, but Red Bull wouldn't give it to him. These decisions have clearly gotten under the Dutchman's skin, and it's affecting how everyone works together.

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According to Marko, the main problem is between Verstappen and the engineering team. Speaking to Austrian outlet Krone, he said the pair aren't finding common ground consistently, and that the relationship simply isn't running smoothly. Mekies has tried to defend the situation by saying Red Bull does listen to Verstappen's feedback throughout race weekends, but a Dutch journalist recently pointed out that the team needs to be more grateful for what their driver is achieving with the RB22 and the input he's providing.

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Despite all this negativity swirling around the team, Verstappen has still managed to rack up three podiums in his last four races, so he's not exactly struggling on track. Team boss Mekies has been talking about how Red Bull can climb back to the top, pointing out that they've won championships before with cars just as inconsistent as this one. He's described the situation as narrow, saying the car only works when it does what it's supposed to do, otherwise it becomes incredibly difficult to drive. For now, Verstappen's future with the team remains unclear as tensions continue to simmer.

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