Amidst rumours, hinted at by rival team bosses, that Red Bull could have a few issues with their F1 2026 engine, Helmut Marko says he’s not worried as Max Verstappen can make up a deficit of “one or two tenths.

The contrast is even more amazing when comparing Verstappen's wage with that of his Red Bull team-mate, Liam Lawson. New Zealander Lawson will not exactly be struggling on a reported £800,000 a year, but that figure means Red Bull could hire him 64 times over and he would still be cheaper than the Dutchman.

Rumours that reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has an exit clause within his current contract have been confirmed by Red Bull chief Helmut Marko.