The question of whether Max Verstappen decides to stay at Red Bull might be determined based on the team’s form in 2025.
The Dutchman’s future at the team was plunged into uncertainty in 2024 amid the allegations surrounding Christian Horner, and the departures of senior figures including Adrian Newey.
Helmut Marko’s new deal to stay at the team denied an exit clause in Verstappen’s contract that would have enabled the Dutchman to leave if he did.
Verstappen was billed as a potential replacement for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, with Toto Wolff recently revealing that he promised the seven-time world champion he would not speak to his old title rival while he was at the Silver Arrows.
After Verstappen’s camp held talks with Wolff over a possible deal, nothing came to fruition. Mercedes would go on to sign 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli alongside George Russell, marking it the first time they have not had a world champion in their driver lineup.
The chances of Verstappen joining Mercedes now look slim, but there is still uncertainty over his future at Red Bull heading into 2026. The ramifications of any potential exit were discussed by Tom Clarkson and former F1 driver Romain Grosjean on the latest F1 Nation podcast.
Romain Grosjean thinks Red Bull could turn into Benetton if Max Verstappen leaves
Red Bull is currently one of the big four teams on the grid but has suffered from an exodus of staff that even predates the Horner scandal. Much like Mercedes suffered after the 2021 season, now Red Bull has seen several departures from key figures who have been in the team for 18 years.
Clarkson drew parallels to Benetton, which competed in 260 races in F1, and how they declined following the exit of Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher in the mid-1990s.
Clarkson: “I see a lot of parallels between what would happen at Red Bull, as to what happened to Benetton in the 1990s when Michael Schumacher left that team. Because when Michael left, all of the top engineers left, Ross Brown left, Rory Byrne left, and it took Benetton 10 years to come back and be a strong team again. I would see something similar happening at Red Bull, I think Max is that integral to that performance there.”
Grosjean: “There is a possibility that you’re right. I think every champion is a good driver, there is no doubt about that. It’s more than being a lead driver, it’s about being the person who can pull the team in the right direction whenever it’s needed, to motivate everyone. This year when you look at the calendar, it’s going to be so difficult physically for the humans in F1. Winning races is someone you know will always give 100% and do the best job he can, it’s going to do an even bigger difference than before.”
Max Verstappen’s future to be decided in ‘next spring and next summer’
Verstappen signed a long-term contract with Red Bull which takes him until at least the 2028 season, but there are various performance clauses attached to that.
If Red Bull fails to produce a car capable of challenging for the title in 2026 due to their gamble on becoming a power unit maker, it could impact Verstappen’s decision to stay with the team.
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Sebastian Vettel went through a similar period when he achieved four titles with the team, exiting 12 months later when it was clear the Renault power units were uncompetitive even in the back of Red Bull.
Insiders have claimed that Verstappen will be determining his future at Red Bull in the ‘next spring and next summer’ with him assuring the team he plans to stay until at least the end of 2026.
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