Max Verstappen’s camp would have been watching on closely in Miami and for the first time since 2021, Red Bull looked under serious pressure from one their rivals.
Lando Norris accelerated away from Max Verstappen and while team principal Christian Horner cited damage from the Dutchman’s run-in with a bollard as the reason for his struggles, the grid might finally be starting to close up on the reigning champions.
Journalist Mark Hughes was speaking on The Race Podcast about what’s becoming one of the most discussed topics in the paddock – Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull.
Max Verstappen’s camp split over his Red Bull future
From a purely contractual point of view, Max Verstappen should be driving for Red Bull until at least the end of the 2028 Formula 1 season.
However, it’s never quite as straightforward as that in F1 – as Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari proved.
Internal politics within Red Bull have created plenty of unrest that has seen Max Verstappen’s father Jos speak out against Christian Horner, as per Sky Sports.
Star designer Adrian Newey has already decided that his time with the team is set to come to an end.
The 65-year-old will leave the team at the beginning of 2025 and is considering offers from several of Red Bull’s biggest rivals on the grid.
Max Verstappen’s camp is now in a position where they have to consider whether it’s best for their driver to stay at Red Bull for the foreseeable future or take the bold decision to move on.
He had a clause in his current deal that allows him to leave should Helmut Marko depart Red Bull.
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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff will be desperate for the Dutchman’s confidantes to convince him that now is the time to take the next step in his career.
Wolff is willing to offer Verstappen some exceptional terms to join Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement.
However, considering the position the team is currently in compared to Red Bull, that might be easier said than done.
Max Verstappen could still be the key to F1’s 2024 driver market
Sharing the latest information he’s heard about Verstappen’s future, Hughes said: “It’s still very much a live topic and as far as we can assert there does seem to be some divergence even within the Verstappen camp about what the future may be.
“But I do believe that Max [Verstappen] has got the ultimate say and I do believe Max when he says he intends to be there next year.
“So, I think it’s a question more of where he’s going to be in 2026 but certainly there are parts of his team who would ideally like to get him out of there at the end of this season but I don’t believe that will happen.
“If he goes, it will be for 2026.”
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Who could Red Bull replace Max Verstappen with if he leaves Red Bull?
If Verstappen’s camp does convince him that leaving Red Bull at the end of this season – or the end of 2025 – is his best option, then Christian Horner and Helmut Marko will want a replacement lined up quickly.
The most obvious option is Carlos Sainz who will leave Ferrari at the end of the season.
He’s still waiting to see if Red Bull will part ways with Sergio Perez as that could offer him a way into a race-winning team.
There is still plenty of interest in Alex Albon with Peter Windsor believing he’s been offered a long-term contract for when his Williams deal expires.
Yuki Tsunoda continues to impress for sister team RB and if he continues that form then eventually he’ll have to be in the conversation too.
The post ‘Very much a live topic’: How Max Verstappen’s camp is feeling about potential Red Bull exit – journalist appeared first on F1 Oversteer.