Max Verstappen at the Red Bull Ring is usually a recipe for success. The defending Formula 1 champion has an upgraded car for his team's home race in Austria — where he's won five times — on the back of an encouraging second place in Canada, where his two McLaren rivals collided.

Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko is far from certain about his case in the run-up to the Austrian Grand Prix. Although the 82-year-old emphasises that there are definitely opportunities for a good result,

The idea of Max Verstappen joining Mercedes would have seemed outlandish when he fought Lewis Hamilton in the contentious title decider in 2021