{"id":596320,"date":"2026-04-09T19:43:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T19:43:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/596320\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T19:43:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T19:43:10","slug":"verstappen-has-already-quietly-bid-farewell-to-red-bull-what-is-his-next-step","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/596320\/","title":{"rendered":"Verstappen has already quietly bid farewell to Red Bull\u2014what is his next step?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Max Verstappen<\/a> faces an important decision in the coming weeks: continue in Formula 1<\/a> or not? If he opts for a longer stay in the sport, Red Bull Racing<\/a> scarcely seems to feature in his plans anymore.Not only is Max Verstappen using the F1<\/a>-free period in April for a renewed adventure with his GT car on the Nordschleife, but it\u2019s also a chance to think about his future.<\/p>\n

The Dutchman has lost the joy in F1 now that those dreaded batteries have negatively changed racing in the premier class of motorsport. Although it is publicly denied, it surely plays a small part that his RB22 isn\u2019t working at all, and even Alpine and Haas are outperforming the Red Bull team.<\/p>\n

Follow GPblog on social media to stay updated on all Formula 1 news: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a>.Verstappen loyal to Red Bull \u2014 for now<\/p>\n

While outwardly it\u2019s said that Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull through the end of 2028 and that they\u2019re monitoring the situation, GPblog is receiving signals that his future with the Austrian outfit is becoming increasingly clear. Continuing at Red Bull Racing appears to be an option that clearly ranks below several other possibilities, this website understands.<\/p>\n

Around Max Verstappen, the feeling is growing stronger that the four-time world champion will quit Formula 1 after the current season. If he does continue, Mercedes and Ferrari are the main options.<\/p>\n

\"verstappen\"\/<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen – Photo: Red Bull Content Pool<\/p>\n

Perhaps McLaren<\/a> will be in the mix as well, especially now that Verstappen\u2019s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, will officially make the move there in 2028<\/a>. Mercedes and Ferrari, however, seem to have the edge.A seat at Mercedes or Ferrari?<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen will be just 29 when this F1 season ends. Right now, the Dutchman should be in his prime years, so options will undoubtedly come his way. Will that be Mercedes, which already has excellent drivers in George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli? Toto Wolff also knows they don\u2019t have the same qualities as Verstappen.<\/p>\n

And what about Charles Leclerc, whose contract expires after this year? Or Lewis Hamilton, who could just decide it\u2019s time for other things in life. It\u2019s highly possible that at least one seat will open up at Ferrari.<\/p>\n

Mercedes and Ferrari are teams that have managed to translate the current regulations into a fast car\u2014something Red Bull has failed to do. Can the Austrians turn the tide? That remains to be seen, but in the meantime, the competition isn\u2019t standing still. It could take years for Red Bull to catch up with Mercedes, Ferrari, and the ever-stronger McLaren.<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen knows all this as well, which explains why staying at Red Bull is currently not an attractive option for the former champion.<\/p>\n

Listen to or watch the GPblog.com<\/a> video podcast. In the F1 Paddock Update, Jim Kimberley and Ben Hunt discuss the latest Formula 1 news. New episodes are available every Monday and Thursday on YouTube<\/a>, Spotify<\/a>, or your favourite podcast app.Make GPblog your preferred source on Google and see our content first in Google Discover<\/a> and Google News<\/a>.