Max Verstappen is on the cusp of losing his fourth consecutive title race to Lando Norris as the championship gap has reduced to 62 points. Moreover, the Red Bull driver hasn’t won any of his past 6 races, which is his longest winless streak since 2020.
On top of that, Red Bull Racing’s defeat to McLaren in constructors title is more or less certain as the lead has come down to 8 points. Hence, with the drink based outfit showing signs of significant decline in the aftermath of political instability, Max Verstappen is believed to be seeking an exit at the earliest possible.
Max Verstappen To Cut Ties With Red Bull, Sabbatical Also An Option
Swiss publication Blick has dropped a bombshell update on Max Verstappen’s future in Red Bull amid a significant decline. The publication reported that Max is seeking an exit from the outfit as soon as possible. His camp is more or less certain that the driver won’t see the end of his contract until 2028. Not only that, Blick claims that Verstappen’s ties with team principal Christian Horner have been severed ever since Adrian Newey and Johnathan Wheatley announced their departures. However, the lack of available seats at top teams remains a concern, and hence, Verstappen is open to taking a sabbatical to access his options for the 2026 season, when the pecking order might reverse due to new engine regulations.
Notably, Mercedes was a realistic choice for Max Verstappen until they closed the door by signing Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Verstappen wanted to trust Red Bull for at least another season, which forced Toto Wolff to promote the teenage prodigy. Now, Wolff is committed to the 18-year-old, meaning Verstappen’s union with Mercedes is unlikely to happen. Ferrari’s situation is the same as they committed long-term to Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Notably, Verstappen has time and again expressed his desire to retire from the sport early. Hence, an extreme measure cannot be ruled out in case he fails to find a competitive seat beyond Red Bull. Meanwhile, for now, the rumours remain unconfirmed. However, they have added a new layer of drama to the ongoing discussions about Verstappen’s future in Formula 1 and Red Bull’s ability to keep its star driver content.
Verstappen’s Frustration With Red Bull Explodes During Monza
During the 2024 Monza Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was left hanging out in the dry by his team, Red Bull, as he jostled to defend Lando Norris for a podium finish. He wanted to change his settings but after a lazy response from the team, Max lashed out and urge them to wake up as the race was important to him.
“Can the people in the background please be awake? I know this is a s**t position, but it’s important,” Max said on the radio. Max Verstappen later explained that it was the engineering team’s responsibility to tell him when he can opt for quicker settings. They are the ones to have the data whereas his job is to drive and follow orders.
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