Karun Chandhok tells Max Verstappen the Red Bull benefit Mercedes ‘may not’ allow

Max Verstappen is only eight points off the lead of the F1 drivers’ championship after the first four rounds, yet the Red Bull garage is not a happy place with their struggles.

The team from Milton Keynes have endured a less-than-ideal start to the 2025 F1 season so far ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend. Verstappen masked their problems to hand Red Bull and Honda the win at the Japanese Grand Prix, but fell far away in Bahrain.

After Verstappen won the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix from pole position by 22.457 seconds, he finished the 2025 race in just P6 plus 34.395s behind race-winner Oscar Piastri. The RB21’s through-corner balance issues reared their head again and he even struggled under braking.

Only a last-lap overtake on Pierre Gasly also ensured the four-time reigning champion would improve on his P7 grid spot after his bleak qualifying result. The 27-year-old’s struggles even also led to a heated exchange between Verstappen’s manager and Helmut Marko in Bahrain.

Mercedes ‘may not’ let Max Verstappen have a say in their second seat like Red Bull

So, while the Dutchman may still sit third in the F1 drivers’ championship with 69 points, the possibility he may leave lingers. Verstappen has a performance-based release clause at Red Bull that will allow him to get out of a contract for the 2028 season if they lack a winning car.

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A few landing spots may also emerge with Aston Martin preparing a five-year, £1bn contract for Verstappen at the request of team owner Lawrence Stroll. But a chance to leave Red Bull for Mercedes could also arise with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli out of contract.

While Russell is expected to get a two-year, £45m Mercedes contract to stay in Brackley, his team boss Toto Wolff has publicly pursued Verstappen. Yet the Dutchman swapping Red Bull for the Silver Arrows could see him lose one potential benefit, according to Karun Chandhok.

“I think Red Bull have created a situation, perhaps, where Max has got a say on who is in the other car,” Chandhok has told Sky Sports. “Whereas, at Mercedes, he may not have a say.

“If you were Toto and you had the option of George and Max, that’s an unbelievably strong line-up. Those are two drivers who have been consistently performing at the highest level for six months.”

Red Bull ignored Max Verstappen to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda

While Chandhok feels Red Bull have created a situation where Verstappen gets at least a say in their second seat, the Milton Keynes natives ignored the Dutchman when their leadership decided after just two rounds of the 2025 season to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda.

Marko conceded Verstappen was ‘not happy’ with Red Bull demoting Lawson to Racing Bulls after struggling to adapt to the RB21. The Kiwi could not get to grips with its sharp front end and loose rear, so team principal Christian Horner called Tsunoda in to help improve the car.

Horner et al ignoring the Dutchman may help to push him closer to the exit door if the RB21 remains a difficult beast to tame throughout the season. But the reluctance Chandhok feels Mercedes would have to let Verstappen dictate their line-up may push him to Aston Martin.