Will Max Verstappen Surprise F1 Leave Red Bull

The rumor mill in Formula One never stops and now the focus is back on Red Bull and Max Verstappen. With Red Bull falling apart at an unprecedented rate. So far this year Red Bull is losing Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey and Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley and rumors of more major departures are in the mill. Gianpiero Lambiase Verstappen’s engineer is rumored to be promoted to the Sporting Director role splitting the the duo. All this change could cause Verstappen to leave, so let’s lay out the options should Max Verstappen leave Red Bull.

Photo byPhilip MyrtorponUnsplash

Max Verstappen Joins The Dark Side

Many Red Bull fans fear that if Max Verstappen leaves he will head to Mercedes and take Lewis Hamilton’s seat. Toto Wolff Mercedes Team Principal is holding out filling that seat in hopes of luring the three-time World Champion knowing he’s got Kimi Antonelli waiting in the wings. Wolff claims Antonelli is the first option but if that was true Antonelli would already be signed.

Mercedes has shown since the upgrades that they are much faster than Red Bull and even with if not faster than McLaren. Assuming Max Verstappen pilots the Mercedes car and Mercedes keeps everything else in place Verstappen will be paired with Peter Bonnington (Bono). Bono has been with Hamilton for all six of his Championships at Mercedes. The combined experience between the two with Mercedes’s ability to hit on upgrades this could yet again be a match made in heaven for Mercedes.

This may be the best move for Max Verstappen given Mercedes’s history of hitting on regulation changes. In 2014 when F1 switched to hybrid engines Mercedes hit on the changes so well that it kicked off a reign of dominance never before seen in Formula One. Between Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, and Valtteri Bottas Mercedes has won 8 straight constructors titles, seven straight drivers championships, and won 111 Grand Prixs at a win rate of nearly 70% through 8 years. With the engine regulation changes coming in 2026, This could be the best spot for Max if he wants to continue winning.

A Geen New Beginning

Reports are coming in that Adrian Newey is going to Aston Martin and will be targeting Max Verstappen as well. Aston Martin has shown in the past money is no problem as team Owner Lawrence Stroll is worth $3.9 Billion according to Forbes. A business mogul who bought out Force India in 2018 has been assembling an all-star crew of engineers and superstar drivers signing Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso.

Stroll is willing to move heaven and earth to win and enlisting Verstappen along with Newey in the Honda Engine that has seen success with Verstappen will put Aston Martin in the hunt for a Championship. Verstappen won his first Championship with the Honda engines. Honda has proven to be reliable and powerful and with the genius of Adrian Newey designing the car it could be a nice landing spot for Verstappen should he depart from Red Bull.

Team Redline

Before the casual F1 fans ask, no Team Redline is not a new team coming to Red Bull. However, Team Redline is a similar race team that Max Verstappen is a part of and loves being a part of Sim racing allows Verstappen to race in multiple series and a multitude of events all year round. Verstappen is famous for staying up most of the night and then the next morning going off to race in Formula One.

If the frustration with Red Bull boils over to irreconcilable then the move for Verstappen may just simply be off into the sunset with his supermodel girlfriend Kelly Piquet and her daughter Penelope and just race within sim series and enjoy life on Twitch. Verstappen will eventually just be a sim racer that is inevitable it is what he loves. Should Red Bull have a historic collapse in the second half of the season Max Verstappen could take his ball and go home.

Loyalty

It is well known Max Verstappen is loyal to his people but what happens when the people in his circle are split? His father Jos Verstappen a former Formula One driver in his own right, has had public disputes with Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner after the Allegations of his misconduct with a female employee. It is clear the elder Verstappen wants Max out of Red Bull but Max is also loyal to Helmut Marko a top Red Bull advisor and Christian Horner. We will find out who influences Max Verstappen the most in the next number of months.

The Best Place For Max Verstappen

When you look at the writing on the wall and the direction of Red Bull and how Red Bull is falling apart, it is clear that if Max wants to continue winning Red Bull is not the place to be. Mercedes has shown they can bounce back and can compete. On top of that Max won’t be fighting for the lead alone, Mercedes already has an established talented driver who would be alongside Verstappen in George Russell. If Verstappen crosses the battle lines into the Mercedes camp Russell will undoubtedly be the best teammate Verstappen ever had.

Aston Martin is a risky choice given that they haven’t accomplished anything in F1 and that Nepotism is a huge problem in Aston Martin as Lance Stroll is one of the drivers and has shown he has no business being in F1. Verstappen is frustrated with the current situation at Red Bull with a viable teammate if Aston Martin continues to struggle with Verstappen it could be disastrous for the Dutchman.

Team Redline will eventually have Max Verstappen to themselves the only question is when. The second half of the season will tell us the true state of the energy drink company. If Red Bull continues to struggle in the second half of the season and leads to a Lando Norris Championship Verstappen will look at other options especially with his dad in his ear trying to get Max out of Red Bull. The upgrade package coming for Red Bull could decide the fate of Verstappen, if it works no need to change. If it fails then Max may trade the Blue and Red for some silver.

For More Great Content

Are you desiring top-tier content that covers everything? From thrilling sports and intoxicating entertainment news to gaming tips and professional betting advice, Total Apex covers it all. Delve into our no-fluff articles to stay ahead of the game with the latest sports action, uncover the hottest trends in entertainment, and get the latest scoops in the gaming industry that will take your experiences to the next level.

Finally, our betting advice will give you a decisive edge over the competition and increase your odds of beating the books. Whether you’re looking to stay updated or gain a competitive edge, Total Apex is your one-stop shop for all things compelling and relevant. Don’t forget we cover Fantasy Sports, too!

Check out all our sites: Total Apex Sports, Total Apex Fantasy Sports, Total Apex Entertainment, Total Apex Sports Bets, and Total Apex Gaming. Out of the ashes of obscurity will rise a beast. Always remember to Respect The Hustle! Follow us on Twitter/X @TotalApexSports to stay informed.

Article originally written by Dillon Hildreth