Amid swirling speculations of a possible departure from Red Bull, Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, has maintained a strategic silence, especially with the increasing likelihood of Adrian Newey’s defection to a F1 competitor.
The persistent buzz around Newey aligns with conjectures that Max Verstappen, the celebrated triple world champion aged 26, might exit Red Bull. Reports suggest an imminent strategic discussion with senior Mercedes personnel post the Miami Grand Prix.
“I think everyone wants Max,” Jos Verstappen remarked during his participation in the Rallye de Wallonie, as reported by racexpress.nl. “He has a fast car, but we also have to look further ahead.”
Recent disclosures hint at underlying tensions within the team, not least due to the Christian Horner controversy, providing Max with a prime moment to evaluate his future, given the uncertainty surrounding Red Bull’s engine strategy for 2026.
Although Max is contractually bound to Red Bull until 2028, certain escape clauses have come to light.
“We are also looking at 2026, so we are letting everything happen a bit,” Jos, a former F1 racer, elaborated. “We will remain very calm and see what will happen.”
For the time being, Jos Verstappen appears reticent regarding the rumours of Newey’s potential exit.
“Normally I wouldn’t say anything about it,” Jos expressed. “What else can I say about it? I don’t know anything else about it.”
“I know that there is basically a deal between him and Red Bull,” he continued, amidst assertions that Newey’s contract runs through next year. “We’ll see about the rest. I can’t say anything about that.”
Jos further acknowledged Newey’s credentials, saying, “We all know what he has achieved and how good he is.”
Meanwhile, Toto Wolff, the Mercedes chief, is closely monitoring the evolving situation at Red Bull, openly admitting his desire to recruit Verstappen as a potential successor to the departing Lewis Hamilton from 2025.
“I think a few factors play a role, but he’s the one who is going to trigger some more dominos to fall,” Wolff commented, focusing on Max. “Everybody is waiting for what he’s going to do.”
GMM
