Amidst all the turmoil within Red Bull – especially after the somewhat disappointing race weekend in Bahrain – rumors about Max Verstappen‘s potential exit are flaring up again. Considering the upcoming changes in regulations, he might try his luck elsewhere. Martin Brundle and Ralf Schumacher agree; if Verstappen is indeed looking for a new employer, Mercedes would be crazy not to snatch him up.
During a broadcast of Sky Sports, Brundle explained that Toto Wolff would not miss the opportunity to sign Max Verstappen a second time. In the distant past, when a young Verstappen was about to make his debut in Formula 1, Mercedes chose not to offer him a contract. “I think if Verstappen were to hit the market, George Russell should start worrying,” said Brundle. “After all, Kimi (Antonelli, ed.) is clearly their man for the future.”
‘Verstappen is always a desirable acquisition’
“There are many ifs and buts,” he continued. “Russell is doing great as a team leader, but Toto has missed Max once – he won’t let that happen again.” Ralf Schumacher anticipates that it’s only a matter of time before Verstappen prematurely terminates his contract. His current collaboration with Red Bull lasts until 2028, but various exit clauses mean he doesn’t have to serve it out.”
“I am quite certain that if the upgrades to the RB21 do not have the desired effect, and the new 2026 engine – based on rumors – does not perform well, Max Verstappen will definitely leave the team,” Schumacher told the German branch of Sky Sports. “You absolutely need to secure this driver and want him on your team.” However, if Max becomes available on the market, there will undoubtedly be more contenders. Schumacher suggested that a deal with Aston Martin – with Honda and Newey – would be the ‘greater adventure’. “Adrian Newey is someone he knows very well,” the German concluded. “In addition, he is familiar with the Honda engines.”
