Amid rumours of Red Bull looking to suspend Dr Helmut Marko, and Max Verstappen saying he will leave the team if Marko leaves, Toto Wolff teases the Austrian can join Mercedes.

The controversy regarding Christian Horner’s alleged inappropriate behaviour toward a female Red Bull employee, is turning into an all-out was within the team.

Ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, rumours emerged that Red Bull’s advisor Dr Helmut Marko is under investigation by the team for allegedly leaking details of the Christian Horner investigation.

It is being said the team is considering suspending the Austrian, in what appears to be a power struggle between the camp led by Marko and Max Verstappen’s father Jos, and the camp led by Horner.

When asked about the Marko situation, Max said his future with Red Bull is dependent on Marko staying with the team.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was also asked about the situation and he teased Marko could join his team in a role similar to the late great Niki Lauda’s.

“We’re missing our old mascot anyway,” Wolff said jokingly in an interview with ORF.

“Then we’ll just take Helmut! He’s the right age. He doesn’t have a red cap, but then he’ll come to us.”

Wolff added Mercedes has always valued what Marko brings to the table.

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“Helmut is not a child of sadness and was – or is – our favourite enemy. But he is a real racer. If they lose Helmut, it will certainly be a loss for Red Bull and for the team.”

The interesting part of this story is that Max Verstappen has been mentioned as one of the candidates to replace Lewis Hamilton in 2025, however, the problem is that the Dutch driver is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028.

Well, it has now emerged that he has an exit clause – in the case of Helmut Marko leaving the team. When asked about the possibility of Max coming to Mercedes, Wolff said:

“We have a seat available in 2025 and 2026. But Max will drive where there is the fastest car, and today that is the Red Bull.”

Since Max’s father Jos was seen talking to Wolff during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, the Austrian was pushed to reveal if they were talking about a potential Mercedes switch for Max.

“We have been talking to each other for 10 years, since Max has been in Formula 1. I have a good relationship with Jos and also with Max.

“But that doesn’t mean that anyone on the professional side would see a change in the short term,” Wolff concluded.