Max Verstappen is 'strongly thinking about' leaving Red Bull following the team's struggles at the British Grand Prix, according to former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher. This comes despite the recent sacking of team principal Christian Horner, with whom Verstappen was not close.
Verstappen's Decline and Potential Move
Verstappen now sits 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri. The Dutchman is seriously considering a switch to Mercedes for the 2026 season. Red Bull, once dominant in the ground effect era, has seen a miserable decline over the past 12 months.
Schumacher told Sky Germany: 'I think one thing has nothing to do with the other, that the two might not have been the best of friends. But that wasn't what Max was talking about. Max obviously wants to stay at Red Bull if at all possible, because that's where it all started, and he owes a lot to Red Bull. But I fear this valley that Red Bull is going through now will last a while. That usually takes - in Formula One history - two or three years.'
Red Bull's Future Challenges
With a new engine project debuting next year and a leadership restructure, questions remain about Red Bull's competitiveness. Schumacher added: 'Now, of course, one thing could happen: new rules next year, and they'll find a great approach. I'm just lacking imagination, because [Pierre] Wache hasn't managed to make the car really drivable and good for two or one and a half years now. So I still believe that Max is very strongly thinking about leaving Red Bull, and more than ever after this weekend.'
Replacement Options for Red Bull
If Verstappen leaves, new team principal Laurent Mekies faces the challenge of replacing F1's most successful driver of the ground effect era. Mekies may also need to fill a second seat, with Yuki Tsunoda on a streak of five consecutive races finishing 12th or lower. Potential replacements include whoever Mercedes drops, or frontrunners like Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, or Charles Leclerc.
