The departure of Adrian Newey may not bring an end to the unrest at Red Bull. The team confirmed ahead of the Miami Grand Prix that Newey would be departing in early 2025.
Jos Verstappen subsequently warned that the team was at risk of ‘falling apart’. And more senior figures are apparently considering their future after Newey resigned.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and McLaren boss Zak Brown have both revealed an increase in applications from Red Bull employees. It seems like there could be an exodus at all levels.
One figure who holds a particularly important stake is Helmut Marko. Max Verstappen is under contract until 2028 but an exit clause will become active if the executive director leaves the team.
Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff has publicly addressed the future of Marko, insisting it would be ‘impossible’ for him to join Mercedes. But he’s made a pact with Verstappen to give him control of his future.
If the 26-year-old wishes to leave, then Marko will walk to trigger his contract option. As such, he will play a vital role in dictating the driver situation not only at Red Bull, but across F1 as a whole.
Christian Horner could move for Carlos Sainz if Helmut Marko departs
According to Motorsport.com Italy, the power struggle at Red Bull extends to their 2025 driver decision. While much of the focus has been on Verstappen, it’s teammate Sergio Perez who is out of contract.
The report states that Red Bull will offer Perez a one-year extension if Marko stays put. However, should team principal Christian Horner gain a greater influence, it could change the picture drastically.
The chances of Carlos Sainz joining Red Bull would ‘increase considerably’ if it was up to Horner. Sainz, who’s been ‘incredible’ this year in the words of Marko, is currently without a seat for 2025 after Ferrari signed Lewis Hamilton.
Sainz and his camp appear to be monitoring this situation closely. They’re holding off on accepting an offer from Audi in case the situation at Red Bull changes.
Where is Carlos Sainz going in 2025?
If Sainz doesn’t receive an offer from Red Bull, his options elsewhere are limited. Mercedes have an open seat but the timelines don’t seem to fit.
Wolff has only offered him a guaranteed 12-month deal because he wants to keep a seat open for 2026. Verstappen may be on the market at that point, and academy driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli might be ready for a promotion.
After being dropped by Ferrari, Sainz might want to go somewhere he feels more valued. Audi, set to acquire Sauber in 2026, want to make him the centrepiece of their F1 project, and that’s currently seen as his most likely destination.
There have also been talks with Williams, but that move is regarded as a ‘long shot’. Neither they nor Sauber have scored points this year, but Andreas Seidl says the latter will be able to spend like a top F1 team.
A return to the Red Bull family wouldn’t necessarily be straightforward either. Sainz started his career alongside Verstappen at Toro Rosso but Marko says he was ‘hurt’ by the manner in which they prioritised the Dutchman.
Given what he’s achieved at Horner’s team – three world championships and 58 race wins – that’s unlikely to change no matter who’s on the other side of the garage. And that could make it ‘impossible’ for Sainz to come out on top.
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