Despite rumors of a move to Aston Martin, Red Bull remains convinced that Max Verstappen won’t leave. But 2025 will be crucial.
“Success doesn’t come overnight.”
Red Bull Racing knows it won’t have the fastest start to the 2025 season. Dr. Helmut Marko has admitted as much, acknowledging that the RB21 is currently trailing behind McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. In fact, the gap could be as much as a full second.
Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, isn’t shy about his concerns. A few days ago, he made it clear: “If things don’t go well this year, it won’t be Max’s fault.”
Early Warning Signs?
For over a year, speculation has been swirling that Max Verstappen could activate an exit clause in his contract and make a move—possibly to Mercedes or even Aston Martin for 2026.
It’s rumored that Adrian Newey has played a key role in Aston Martin’s pursuit, convincing team owner Lawrence Stroll to put a massive offer on the table. The deal? A long-term contract worth up to one billion euros, including salary, bonuses, and stock options.
Marko hasn’t denied that other teams are making a move, but he’s staying calm.
“Adrian Newey is a true racer and a smart guy. His top priority is having the fastest driver.”
But Marko remains confident that Max won’t be tempted.
“They’ve thrown the bait, but in the end, Max just wants to win. Everyone in F1 knows Newey is a genius, but success doesn’t happen overnight with a new team. He needs time to build a strong group around him. I don’t see Max leaving Red Bull anytime soon.”
2025 Will Be the Deciding Factor
For Jos Verstappen, everything hinges on Red Bull’s 2025 car.
“Red Bull must keep performing. They need to keep building a great car—that’s crucial.”
At the start of pre-season testing, Max seemed happy with the upgrades made over the winter.
“Then they changed parts, tested new things,” Jos explains.
“After that, he didn’t feel as comfortable in the car. They went back to the original spec, but even then, he couldn’t find the same feeling as on the first day of testing.”
Now, Jos is questioning whether Red Bull truly understands the problem—or if they simply made the wrong calls when addressing the RB20’s handling issues from last year.
“Let’s just say—Max is not satisfied.”
Marko admits that Jos “is mostly right,” but he still believes Max can win, even if McLaren or another team has a faster car.
“Max will still be world champion in 2025,” he predicts.
“He doesn’t need the absolute fastest car, though of course, he’d like one. But now, he has to get used to fighting harder. He can make up a lot, but not half a second—that’s true.”
Red Bull’s 2025 goal? Make the car more adaptable and give the drivers more confidence.
“We’ve made progress, but we’re not there yet.”
Final Thought: Will Verstappen Stay?
Max’s future may depend on how competitive Red Bull remains. If the team delivers, there’s no reason for him to leave. If not, the rumors about Aston Martin—or Mercedes—will only grow stronger.
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Verstappen’s Future: Why Red Bull Stays Confident Verstappen’s Future: Why Red Bull Stays Confident
