Marko warns: Perform or be dropped

Editor

With four drivers on their F1 books and more coming through the junior program, Helmut Marko has warned his Red Bull drivers that if they don't deliver, they will be dropped.

Last season Daniil Kvyat made the step up to Red Bull Racing from Toro Rosso but struggled for results in the first half of the championship.

This led to rumours that his seat was on the line but as the year progressed so too did the Russian driver who went on to finish the campaign ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in the points.

This year both drivers have been warned they need to perform or else they risk losing their seat to one of the energy drink company's junior drivers.

"We basically have long-term contracts at the Red Bull junior program and the whole program is based on performance," Marko told the official F1 website.

"So no shoot-out, but be very clear: the one who is not delivering goes."

The Red Bull advisor was pressed on teenage racer Max Verstappen's future within the team.

Making his debut last season at just 17 years of age, the Dutchman impressed with Toro Rosso and on two occasions narrowly missed out on the podium with P4s in Hungary and Austin.

Asked whether a Red Bull seat awaits Verstappen in 2016, Marko said: "Let's see what he delivers. The second season is sometimes trickier than the first!"