Max Verstappen says his focus is on helping to improve Red Bull's car as he said he did not know why Helmut Marko suggested he had “great concern” about the world champion’s future at the team.

Speculation around Verstappen's Red Bull future resurfaced this week when team advisor Marko, speaking to Sky Germany after their struggle in last Sunday's Bahrain GP where Verstappen finished sixth, said he was concerned that the four-time champion could leave unless they managed to improve their car.

Verstappen's Red Bull contract runs for another three years to the end of 2028 but is widely believed to contain performance clauses that could theoretically allow an earlier departure in certain circumstances.

But asked about Marko's comments in Thursday's Drivers' Press Conference ahead of this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Verstappen said: "I don't know, to be honest. I just keep working, keep trying to improve the car.

"Bahrain wasn't a great weekend for us. I think we were all pretty disappointed with that. We just keep on trying to improve the car, come up with new ideas to try on the car. The competition is tough. That's how I go about my weeks, just trying to improve the situation."

And in a playful response when asked why Marko had therefore made his remarks, Verstappen responded: "Just focus on commentating, I'll focus on driving, and then we don't need to think about any other scenarios."

Verstappen, who has regularly linked with Mercedes and Aston Martin over the past 12 months, said of the speculation: "A lot of people talking are about it, except me.

"I just want to focus on my car, work with the people in the team. That's the only thing that I'm thinking about in F1 at the moment. I'm very relaxed."

More to follow...

Friday April 18

• 10.50am: F2 Practice
• 12pm: F1 Academy Practice
• 2pm: Saudi Arabian GP Practice One (session starts at 2.30pm)
• 3.55pm: F2 Qualifying
• 4.40pm: Team Bosses' Press Conference
• 5.45pm: Saudi Arabian GP Practice Two (session starts at 6pm)
• 7.25pm: F1 Academy Qualifying
• 8.10pm: The F1 Show

Saturday April 19

• 1.15pm: F1 Academy Race 1
• 2.05pm: Saudi Arabian GP Practice Three (session starts at 2.30pm)*
• 4.10pm: F2 Sprint
• 5.10pm: Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying build-up
• 6pm: SAUDI ARABIAN GP QUALIFYING

Sunday April 20

• 1pm: F1 Academy Race 2
• 2.20pm: F2 Feature Race
• 4.30pm: Saudi Arabian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday
• 6pm: THE SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX*
• 8pm: Saudi Arabian GP reaction: Chequered flag

*Also live on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 completes its first triple-header of 2025 in Jeddah with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - No contract, cancel anytime