With Max Verstappen’s Red Bull future the biggest story in Formula 1, the world champion isn’t too happy to talk about it.
Reports from Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday morning claimed the Dutchman has decided to leave his career-long team, corroborating an earlier call from Ralf Schumacher.
On top of that, Red Bull head of driver development, Helmut Marko, revealed to the BBC that Verstappen does have a contractual break clause based on the team’s performance.
His current deal runs until 2028, but there’s suspicions it won’t get there amid Red Bull’s drop off in form.
Last time out in Bahrain, pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz also reported an angry exchange between Marko and Verstappen’s agent Raymond Vermeulen after a dire performance.
Naturally, the story got top billing at the drivers’ press conference in Saudi Arabia, and commentator David Croft was first up to try and get an answer.
Verstappen replied with ‘I don’t know’ when asked about Marko saying he’s worried about losing him, so Croft went again.
“So he’s getting the wrong end of the stick? You’re not looking to leave Red Bull any time?” the broadcaster asked.
Before Verstappen brutally replied: “No, I think just focus on commentating.
“I’ll focus on driving and then you don’t need to think about any other scenarios.”
Croft then sheepishly ended: “We just worry about you,” earning a thumbs up from the Dutchman.
Red Bull have had arguably the fourth fastest car on the grid so far in 2025 after four straight drivers’ titles from Verstappen.
His 2022 and 2023 championships were two of the most dominant in F1 history, but their pace evaporated last season as they faced an unlikely title challenge from Lando Norris.
Norris’ McLaren took home the constructors’ championship, and Red Bull faced a number of distractions off the track, including allegations of misconduct against team principal and CEO Christian Horner that he was later cleared of.
Yet in April the Austrian-British squad received their biggest blow possible when the greatest car designer in the sport’s history – Adrian Newey – announced his departure to Aston Martin.
Aston are one of the teams linked with a move for Verstappen, as new regulations come into force in 2026, which is typically a reset that Newey has exploited in winning fashion throughout his career.
Such a move would likely force the contracted Fernando Alonso out of the team, with owner Lawrence Stroll fielding son Lance on a rolling contract.
Asked if he’s worried about his place on the grid, Alonso said: “I don’t think so as I have a contract for next year.
“I see the rumours as very good for the team, the world champion linked with a departure and the teams are Mercedes and Aston Martin, so this shows the project we are in and the future this team has.”
Asked if he’d welcome Verstappen as a teammate, the two-time world champion responded: “Yes, but it’s unlikely to happen.”
