Translation (google):

Because of the Marko clause: Verstappen can leave Red Bull. Will Max Verstappen move to Mercedes? That's why Red Bull motorsport chief advisor Helmut Marko is key.

Game, set and victory at the Bahrain GP for Formula 1 high-flyers Max pole position, fastest race lap and a lead of over 20 seconds at the end. The Dutchman and his Red Bull will not only be the overwhelming favorite at the next race on Saturday in Saudi Arabia - competitors like Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff even trust him to complete all 24 races of the longest Formula 1 season of all time win. “Max is driving in another galaxy,” Wolff praised Sky with admiration.

Alone: ​​The Viennese schlawiner rolled out the red carpet for Verstappen for a reason. Because he suddenly sees an opportunity to put Verstappen in his Mercedes next year and thus even profitably replace his superstar Lewis Hamilton (39), who is moving to Ferrari.

F1-Insider.com learned of an exit clause in the Dutchman's Red Bull contract that makes it possible for Verstappen to immediately leave the drinks company run by the Thai Yoovidhya family. Accordingly, Verstappen is free if his sponsor and confidant Helmut Marko (80) leaves Red Bull - and that is no longer out of the question after the events of the last few weeks due to the alleged sexual assault by team boss Christian Horner towards an employee.

Formel 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Bahrain 2024 Max Verstappen. Credit: Red Bull Content Pool One thing is certain: the swamp surrounding Horner is getting deeper and deeper, the rifts between the team boss and his supporters from Thailand on the one hand and the minority shareholders from Austria, Marko, chief designer Adrian Newey and the Verstappen family on the other are getting bigger and bigger. During the celebration scenes before the award ceremony in the paddock, Verstappen almost jumped at Marko and Newey's necks full of gratitude and loyalty. The two stood close together to leave no doubt that they belonged to the same party.

Numerous meters away, the boss from Thailand, Horner and his wife, ex-Spice Girl and actress (Grand Tourismo) Geri Halliwell, who played perhaps her greatest role in Oscar-winning Bahrain, patted him on the shoulder. It was clear that Verstappen was very reserved about the praise. He doesn't want to wash dirty laundry in public.

Jos Verstappen speaks plainly He doesn't need it either. Because his mouthpiece is father Jos. And he made it abundantly clear to a Daily Mail reporter. “There will be tensions here as long as Horner is in his position,” said the 51-year-old. “The team is in danger of being torn apart. "It can't go on like this, it's going to explode." Verstappen senior blamed Horner for possible internal problems and emphasized that he was "playing the victim even though he is the one causing the problems."

Formula 1 Max and Jos Verstappen Red Bull Bahrain 2024 Max und Jos Verstappen. Credit: Red Bull Content Pool He also feels sorry for the employee who was dragged into the mud by the Thais' Horner acquittal. Her name is now public and she essentially has no choice but to go to a civil court in the UK to clear her name.

You can understand it like this: If the Thais continue to support Horner and he is allowed to stay despite all the allegations, the Verstappens are gone. It's fitting that Jos Verstappen had a familiar-looking dinner with Toto Wolff during the Bahrain weekend and didn't attach great importance to not being seen talking to the Mercedes team boss in the paddock.

One thing is certain: The Red Bull Group is facing a test that goes far beyond the Formula 1 sub-business. Ford, Red Bull's future technology partner in Formula 1 and an important ally on the US market against competitor Coca Cola, is currently checking whether the alliance that has already been agreed upon can still be dissolved . The bosses in Detroit, we hear, have no interest in playing a role in a documentary soap called "Sex in the (Paddock) City."

They also have the leaked details, which were sent to the entire paddock with an anonymous email address during the Bahrain weekend. In addition to alleged text messages to his employee, there are also spicy photos of Horner that are literally below the belt. The Brit continues to steadfastly deny all allegations and considers the files to be fake.

Marko: Loyal to Red Bull and Verstappen Formula 1 Dr. Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen Red Bull Bahrain 2024 Dr. Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen. Credit: Red Bull Content Pool As far as Formula 1 is concerned: Red Bull is no longer just about a power struggle that the Austrians actually cannot win. “Too much has been broken on a personal level,” says Sky expert Ralf Schumacher to F1-Insider.com, “you can’t fix that anymore. It would be best for Red Bull if Horner resigned. But I doubt he’ll do that.”

Helmut Marko seems disillusioned, but shows himself to be loyal to his employer by repeatedly repeating: “The internal investigations have been completed. I won't say anything more about it." He only comments on the Verstappen-Mercedes rumors and the Verstappen exit clause at F1-Insider.com: "As far as I'm concerned: I won't stand in Max's way."

Formula 1 icon and Red Bull insider Gerhard Berger sums it up best. The Tyrolean was in Bahrain and was able to watch the comedy from the front row. His impression: “As of now: Horner stays, Helmut Marko and Adrian Newey quit and Max goes to Mercedes.”