Report: Max Verstappen has decided to leave Red Bull: Reports.
In a bombshell report dropped by Gazzetta, four-time world champion Max Verstappen has apparently decided to leave Red Bull by the end of the 2025 season. He is likely to consider moving to Aston Martin or Mercedes for the 2026 season when new engine regulations are set to kick in.
Red Bull faced significant turmoil last year when team principal Christian Horner was accused of inappropriate conduct toward a female employee. The controversy reportedly caused internal tensions, with Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, opposing Horner’s continued leadership.
In 2024, Red Bull’s dominance waned as they lost the Constructors’ Championship to McLaren. Although Max Verstappen secured his fourth drivers’ title, the 2025 season has already highlighted the team’s vulnerabilities. After a win in Japan, Verstappen only managed a sixth-place finish in Bahrain, citing issues with the car’s brakes and balance.
Now, ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Italian outlet Gazzetta claims that Max Verstappen has decided to leave Red Bull at the end of this season. Despite his contract running through 2028, it’s believed he has exit clauses that would allow an early departure.
Gazzetta also claimed that Verstappen is worried about Red Bull switching from Honda to homegrown engines in 2026, when new regulations will come into effect. Apparently, the Bulls’ new power units aren’t working well so far, adding to Max’s woes.
As for his options, Aston Martin is reportedly leading the race to poach Verstappen. Owner Lawrence Stroll signed Red Bull’s backbone, Adrian Newey, and also partnered with Honda for the 2026 season. Hence, Stroll’s money and familiarity with Newey and Honda are likely strengthening Aston’s case.
Another alleged option for Verstappen is Mercedes. George Russell’s and Kimi Antonelli’s contracts are expiring by the end of the year, and Toto Wolff is yet to commit to an extension for either of his drivers.
Max Verstappen opens up on speculations around his Red Bull exit.
As rumors continue to circulate around his future in F1, Max Verstappen gave a savage reply to David Crofty during the Saudi Arabian GP press conference. When Crofty asked if the Dutchman was thinking of leaving Red Bull, he replied:
“Just focus on commentating, I’ll focus on driving, and then we don’t need to think about any other scenarios. I just want to focus on my car and work with the people on the team. That’s the only thing that I’m thinking about in F1 at the moment. I’m very relaxed.”
Max Verstappen chose not to engage with the rumors surrounding his future, emphasizing that his priority is enhancing the car’s performance and remaining competitive in the championship battle. At present, he sits third in the drivers’ standings, having secured one victory in the first four races.
