‘Verstappen knows Red Bull won't turn it around, Mercedes move imminent’

According to Ralf Schumacher, Max Verstappen has once again seen at Silverstone that Red Bull Racing is currently lacking. The former Formula 1 driver suggests that Mercedes therefore has a better starting position in the battle for the Dutchman.

"I think Silverstone showed Max that Red Bull is not going to make the turnaround, despite all efforts," says Schumacher to F1-Insider. According to Schumacher, Verstappen will mainly look at which team offers him the best sporting future. "Ultimately, it's about his career, not loyalty. If Mercedes shows him that they are doing everything to get him, he will switch."

The 50-year-old German also points to the current relationships in the field, where Mercedes is losing to customer team McLaren. This is problematic, says Schumacher, but Verstappen could make the difference. "For Mercedes, losing to McLaren, which uses the same engine, is painful. With Max, they could reverse those roles in 2026."

Verstappen's decision – which is expected by the summer break – could determine the Formula 1 of the coming years, according to Schumacher. A switch to Mercedes is not out of the question, despite his ongoing contract. Red Bull is reportedly not going to stop him if he really wants to leave.

Another crucial factor is the engine. From 2026, Red Bull will drive with a self-developed engine, in cooperation with Ford. What the performance will be is still unknown. However, Helmut Marko emphasizes that it is not obvious that the competition immediately has a major lead and points to positive signals for Red Bull Ford Powertrains.