Four-time world champion Max Verstappen is doing everything he can to keep himself in the title fight this year despite Red Bull Racing’s obvious struggles.
Max Verstappen’s immense quality has been on show throughout the first two races of the 2025 season when his performance is compared to new teammate Liam Lawson.
Verstappen finished on the podium in Australia before finishing third in the Sprint Race at the Chinese Grand Prix and negotiating his way past both Ferraris before they were disqualified during Sunday’s race.
Red Bull are no longer the dominant force in Formula 1 and Lawson has voiced his concerns about the car after back-to-back P20 performances in qualifying in Shanghai.
| Position | Constructors’ Standings | Points |
| 1 |
McLaren Racing |
78 |
| 2 |
Mercedes-AMG Petronas |
57 |
| 3 |
Red Bull Racing |
36 |
| 4 |
Williams F1 Team |
17 |
| 5 |
Scuderia Ferrari |
17 |
| 6 |
Haas F1 Team |
14 |
| 7 |
Aston Martin F1 Team |
10 |
| 8 |
Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber |
6 |
| 9 |
Racing Bulls |
3 |
| 10 |
Alpine F1 Team |
0 |
Verstappen has no desire to race in F1 forever and the prospect of staying at Red Bull if they’re not delivering a car that lives up to his expectations is unlikely to appeal to him.
With new regulations on the horizon in Formula 1, one team principal is sensing an opportunity to poach Verstappen from Red Bull for next season.
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Toto Wolff holding ‘behind-the-scenes’ talks with Max Verstappen’s camp amid Red Bull struggles
Working for Sky Sports Germany, former driver Ralf Schumacher spotted team principal Christian Horner, chief advisor Helmut Marko and technical director Pierre Wache in a ‘heated exchange’.
He said: “I wouldn’t want to be there to see what happens in the meeting later. Max is impatient – and rightly so.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there are already negotiations going on in the background (he means Verstappen’s intention to move; ed.).
“We’ll have to see what happens next year: a completely new car, a new engine. And they can’t even get Adrian Newey’s current combination right.”
📻 “Good job, Max. You drove very, very well. Well done.”
📻 “The beginning was quite tough. A bit of fun towards the end. Let’s analyse everything, I think those last few laps were a lot more competitive, that’s for sure.”#F1 || #ChineseGP 🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/l0F2tJpypQ
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) March 23, 2025
A report from F1 Insider has shared more details about the uncertainty surrounding Verstappen’s future.
Mercedes have been linked with Verstappen for years and team principal Toto Wolff has long been an admirer of the 27-year-old.
However, F1 Insider reports that Wolff has launched a ‘charm offensive behind the scenes’ with Verstappen’s camp.
Previously, Wolff has said: “There’s no swap. The silly season starts early, but we stand by our drivers.
“That’s the decision with Kimi and George – and they’re delivering sensationally.
“So that question doesn’t even arise today.”
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Mercedes have almost impossible decision to make if Max Verstappen becomes available
Verstappen’s Red Bull contract runs until the end of 2028 but like many drivers on the grid, there will be performance clauses on both sides that would allow him to leave if Red Bull’s performance falls below a certain level.
The 2026 regulations are going to test Red Bull more than any other ruleset as they set about building their first power unit alongside Ford.
They also have to develop a car without Adrian Newey who is already working on next year’s machine at Aston Martin.
However, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli have started the season brilliantly with the Brit very much in the title fight this year.
Antonelli is the highest-ranking rookie in the drivers’ championship right now and even though both drivers are out of contract at the end of the year, but right now, Wolff has no reason to drop either of them.
If talks with Verstappen’s camp go well then he may need to find a reason as rejecting the chance to sign the Dutchman may end up being a decision he regrets.
