Red Bull faces yet another crisis? 'Verstappen looks for the exit door'

20:56, 09 Jun
Updated: 21:17, 09 Jun
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Former F1 driver and current FIA Steward Derek Warwick believes Max Verstappen is looking for the exit door at Red Bull, with the Briton listing the teams the Dutchman's in talks with at the moment.
Red Bull Racing's bad form cannot be pinned as the reason for the many rumours pointing to Verstappen's exit from the Austrian team as the Dutchman has time and time again reaffirmed his loyalti to the Milton Keynes-based outfit. It's the fact that they can't seem to get their car - and thus their season - back on the right track.
Warwick, in conversation with a betting site, believes that the current F1 world champion is looking for a new home in F1. “Well, obviously he's talking to every team," he stated with determination.
"But when you say every team, that's only really McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, and maybe Aston Martin.”
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Team Principal Christian Horner has currently been sidelined at Red Bull Racing

'Aston Martin, the big cash cow, Mercedes a question mark'

The Silverstone-based outfit, though, is not yet the world championship fighting powerhouse Red Bull has been for the past four years. “Aston would be a big gamble, but they do have Adrian Newey there," he added.
Sizing up the remaining world champion's potential destination in the series, Warwick looked to Mercedes, and they may not be much better than Red Bull at the moment. Nevertheless it's been rumoured that the German team may have the ultimately strongest Power Unit going into the 2026 regulations overhaul, which could then make them a prime candidate. But looking at recent history, there's much left to be desired, the Briton notes.
"Mercedes will always be there or thereabouts, although they've had a lean period for them these last three years. If I was Mercedes, would I want to get rid of George or Kimi? I think the answer to that is no, but the trouble is when you've got arguably the fastest driver in Formula One knocking on your door, I think he can open most doors."
If it's money the Dutchman wanted, Warwick ventures a guess, then Aston Martin will surely be the team to offer him just that. "I think the big, big paycheck would come from Aston Martin if that's what he's interested in. I think at the end of the day he'll stay at Red Bull," the former F1 driver concluded.  
GPblog has been able to confirm that Verstappen is not going anywhere in 2026. Despite the fact that a clause in his contract could be triggered if he is not in the top 3 in the Drivers' standings, this website understands that the Dutchman has made the decision to stay with the Austrian team for the 2026 season. The man who seems to be hanging by a thread is Christian Horner, who GPblog has confirmed to be sidelined from signing drivers to the team.