Dr Helmut Marko is not commenting on speculation about Max Verstappen’s new annual retainer other than to admit the Dutchman is “satisfied”. “I will not speculate about the numbers,” Marko, who negotiated the deal with Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz and Verstappen’s managers, told Sport1. “Normally, Red Bull doesn’t make deals that long,” Marko, 78, insisted. Germany’s Auto Bild believes the deal is so long and lucrative because Red Bull needed Verstappen to be the centrepiece of a likely collaboration with Porsche from 2026. Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen says no one should be surprised about the new Red Bull contract.

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