Max Verstappen’s future in Formula 1 is once again under scrutiny as reports emerge of a potential departure of Adrian Newey, the design genius behind Red Bull’s success. Speculation surrounding Verstappen’s exit had quieted down, but the absence of Newey, a key figure in the Dutchman’s achievements, could reignite these rumors. Newey’s brilliance in creating dominant cars has allowed Verstappen to etch his name in the record books. However, it is rumored that Newey has expressed his intention to leave due to dissatisfaction with Red Bull boss Christian Horner’s ongoing saga.
Considered the greatest designer in the sport’s history, Newey’s concepts have led Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull to a total of 25 championships. This includes the seven Drivers’ Championships and six Constructors’ successes that Red Bull has achieved in Formula 1 so far, with two more likely to follow this season. Despite Horner’s statement in 2022 that Red Bull has evolved its technical structure to not rely on Newey, Technical Director Pierre Wache has described him as “irreplaceable.” The collaboration between the British and Frenchmen has been instrumental in Red Bull’s resurgence since the introduction of ground-effect cars in 2022.
With their current generation machines, namely the RB19 and RB20, Red Bull has been virtually unbeatable, winning all but two races since the start of last season.
Verstappen has taken advantage of his dominance to secure three consecutive Drivers’ Championships and climb to third place in the all-time wins ranking with 58 victories.
Verstappen has started the season with an almost flawless record, only marred by a single setback in Australia, positioning him for a fourth consecutive title.
However, despite his continued dominance on the track, Verstappen has been constantly questioned about his future in F1 during media interviews.
As someone who prefers to focus solely on racing and avoid getting involved in off-track drama, Verstappen has shown signs of frustration when asked about the Horner situation.
Verstappen’s desire to keep himself separate from such matters was not helped when his father Jos suggested in Bahrain that Horner’s presence could “cause division” within the team.
The Dutch superstar has been linked to a sensational move to Mercedes, with the team’s principal, Toto Wolff, emphasizing that Verstappen is their top choice.
Although it may not be wise for Verstappen to leave Red Bull while he continues to achieve great success, Newey’s departure could make him consider the long-term implications.
Verstappen had previously stated that the duration of his current long-term contract would depend on the key figures behind his success remaining in place.
During his speech at the time when Newey extended his own contract 12 months ago, the Red Bull superstar emphasized the significance of retaining the core group that has achieved success in F1.
“When you’re performing exceptionally well, you aim to keep that entire team intact. And that is undoubtedly the objective for the team in the future,” he evaluated.
However, Newey’s sudden departure could trigger a mass departure that jeopardizes the team’s stability and leads Verstappen to consider other options.
Verstappen had previously expressed his contentment with the recent discussions surrounding Red Bull, stating that they were shifting the focus back to the team’s accomplishments.
“After 2021, I signed a long-term contract with the team,” Verstappen stated. “From the beginning, my only request was to have a calm and harmonious environment.
“Recently, we have been discussing the car’s performance, and I am pleased with that. It’s important to talk about the car’s performance. That’s how it should be.
“As long as I am satisfied with the team, there has never been a reason for me to leave.”
However, this contentment is likely to be short-lived as rumors grow stronger about Newey’s imminent departure from the position he has held at Red Bull for nearly two decades.
The resurgence of tension and discord that plagued Red Bull in the earlier months of 2024 will test Verstappen’s loyalty.
Ferrari has secured Charles Leclerc as their current driver alongside the incoming Lewis Hamilton, while Fernando Alonso has extended his contract with Aston Martin.
With McLaren out of the equation, Mercedes remains the obvious choice if Verstappen decides to continue his F1 career without Red Bull.
According to reports, the German car brand is ready to offer Verstappen a tempting annual salary and enlist the services of Helmut Marko to entice him over.
Meanwhile, Mercedes can also rely on proposing to the current F1 champion that they will be able to compete at the front of the pack once again with new regulations.
Mercedes has experienced its worst start to a season since 2011 this year as the team’s struggles to comprehend the current generation cars have persisted.
However, the expected return to an engine-focused formula will give an opportunity to Red Bull’s competitors, with Mercedes optimistic about its next-generation power unit.
Elsewhere, without the expertise of Newey to rely on and a new engine project that presents an uncertain situation, Red Bull’s hopes for 2026 seem fragile.
Wolff was confident in China that Mercedes won’t need to convince Verstappen despite the competitive disadvantage, stating that there are other factors to consider.
The Austrian’s confidence on this matter may be seen as foolish, but rumors have revealed that Verstappen’s team will meet with Mercedes next month.
Wolff admits that he was hurt when Hamilton signed with Ferrari, which raises the question of whether his comments about Verstappen were made with prior knowledge.
Regardless, the situation at Red Bull is expected to be tense in Miami next weekend, as the reigning champions face the threat of losing two crucial components of their success.