Jos Verstappen reveals: 'A team switch is not out of the question for Max'
Red Bull Contentpool
F1 News
- Nicole Mulder
Amid the turmoil at Red Bull Racing in early 2024 and the disappointing performance of the RB20, there was widespread speculation about Max Verstappen potentially switching to Mercedes. While the Dutch driver ultimately chose to stay loyal to his team, his father, Jos Verstappen, has hinted that it’s still possible Max may not see out his entire contract with Red Bull.
After a strange 2024 season for Max, Verstappen sr. doubts that his son will become world champion again this year and clinch his fifth Formula 1 title. "Red Bull needs to build a car that is no longer so difficult to drive. If you look at the second half of 2024, you cannot be optimistic," the 52-year-old said in a conversation with Münchner Merkur/tz media group.
Jos Verstappen doesn't rule out a Red Bull departure for Max
The four-time world champion will remain with Red Bull in 2025, but father Jos says an early departure from the Milton Keynes-based team has not been ruled out. "Anything is possible. He can stay at Red Bull if he sees the point. His goal is to be able to win races. If he feels this is no longer possible at Red Bull, a switch is not out of the question," he explained.
Jos therefore has a clear message for his son's team: "Red Bull has a big task ahead of it in 2025." Max Verstappen also indicated that he does not expect to become world champion for the fifth time if his team continues like this. However, he did state that he is confident that the engineers know which areas to work on to solve the balance problems in the F1 car.
This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon
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