The chain reaction of departures from Red Bull Racing appears to be unstoppable. The Formula 1 team is facing instability on multiple fronts and may now be on the verge of losing its most valuable asset—three-time world champion Max Verstappen.
The internal hemorrhage within Red Bull has shown no signs of slowing. From Jonathan Wheatley to Adrian Newey, several key figures have already decided to leave the Milton Keynes-based squad. The most recent and dramatic exit was that of team principal Christian Horner, who was dismissed just a week ago. Now, attention turns to the possibility of another seismic loss: that of Max Verstappen himself.
Offering insight into the situation is former Formula 1 driver and current pundit Ralf Schumacher, who has expressed his strong belief that the partnership between the Dutch driver, born in 1997, and Red Bull Racing is nearing its end.
According to Schumacher, the team most likely to sign Max Verstappen would be Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, especially given its rumored power unit advantage for 2026, the year the sport will adopt an entirely new set of technical regulations.
Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Schumacher stated, “Christian Horner’s recent dismissal could be just the beginning. In my opinion, the next person to leave Red Bull will be Max Verstappen himself. No one in Salzburg will want to hear this, but right now the outlook for Red Bull is far from positive.”
The German commentator added that, in order to continue winning in the near future, Verstappen might have no choice but to consider other teams. “I truly believe Max needs to look elsewhere if he wants to find immediate success again. With the arrival of the new engines, everything is still up in the air,” he noted.
Schumacher went on to suggest that the reigning world champion is already destined for Mercedes. “That’s why I really think his future lies with Mercedes. Although I suspect even that move could bring its own challenges,” he remarked. “Of course, he’s deeply tied to Red Bull. He owes a great deal to the team—we’ve discussed this more than once.”
However, Schumacher pointed out that Verstappen’s management team, along with his father Jos Verstappen—himself a former F1 driver—already have a clear idea of what’s next. “His management and his father have been around Formula 1 long enough to know exactly where he’s heading. That’s why I’m convinced it will be Mercedes,” he concluded.
Since last season, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has been vocal about his desire to bring the Dutch superstar to the team’s headquarters in Brackley. However, if such a move were to happen, it would create an immediate dilemma within the Silver Arrows’ driver lineup. Either George Russell or the highly rated young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli would have to make way for Max Verstappen, potentially forcing one of them to seek a seat elsewhere on the grid.
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