Marko suggests that the British GP might be the final upgrade for Red Bull.

      "It isn’t impossible to close the gap of three tenths."

      The development of Red Bull’s 2025 car may be put on hold soon after the upcoming British GP. This weekend, Formula 1 races at Red Bull's own track in Zeltweg, Austria. Advisor Dr. Helmut Marko informed Kleine Zeitung that the team will have an upgrade and a few new components a week later at Silverstone. While the constructors’ title has already been deemed a lost cause, Red Bull hasn't completely given up on Max Verstappen narrowing the 43-point gap to the leading McLaren. “It’s not impossible to make up those three tenths,” Marko stated. “But if that’s going to happen, it needs to be now.”

      Every team on the grid is facing a similar challenge of when to cease development for 2025 in order to shift focus to the significantly different regulations for 2026. “At some point, we’ll say ‘Okay, that’s it for further development,’” Marko confirmed. “For two reasons – the timing and the time it takes to produce new components – as well as the cost cap. How do you allocate your resources?” Marko anticipates that a decision to concentrate solely on the new car will be made after Silverstone or Spa at the latest.

      This moment is particularly crucial for Red Bull as it transitions away from works Honda support and embarks on developing its own complex power unit in partnership with Ford for 2026 and beyond. “Mercedes has already declared itself the favorite,” Marko said, “but there’s no proof of that. There are three or four key elements for the new car. The combustion engine, which is smaller than the one in my lawnmower, should be fine for us. Unless there are reliability problems, it won’t drastically change the game. The battery is essential,” Marko continued. “We’re starting with a conventional approach for that, and fuel plays a significant role. Development in this area is progressing well with our partner Exxon.”

      Another significant concern for Red Bull is securing drivers, especially with the main team depending on Verstappen while struggling to find a teammate who can match his pace. Isack Hadjar appears to be a leading candidate to replace Yuki Tsunoda for 2026. “We’ll take our time to finish the season calmly, and after the summer break, we’ll evaluate our options,” Marko said regarding Hadjar. “We also have long-term contracts we can extend with Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda. Everything needs to be 100 percent aligned for us to be competitive against McLaren, which is challenging since we practically rely on one driver.”

      Speculations suggesting Verstappen could abruptly leave the team persist. Some insiders have observed that he might have lost some focus on F1 recently. “Whenever Max is at the track, he’s completely focused,” Marko asserts. “It’s true that he spends less time on the simulator now, but that’s no secret. He enjoys GT racing with his team Verstappen.com, which is a large organization in which he is heavily involved. That keeps him in a good mood.”

      At 82 years old, Marko is reportedly considering Sebastian Vettel as his successor. “My contract extends until the end of 2026,” the Austrian said. “Currently, my main focus is on steering the team back to winning.” When asked about Vettel, Marko responded: “We don’t talk about the succession, but he is following everything very closely. The question of succession is one of the issues, and let’s say this – many want to take over. However, until the summer break, our priority is on closing our deficit. The two shareholders, Mark Mateschitz and Chalerm Yoovidhya, are present and have their own ideas. Sometimes, one desires something different from what the other wants. That complicates matters as well,” he smiled.