Due to internal strife at Red Bull, Max Verstappen’s future there is questionable.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has reportedly devised a contingency plan to recruit two drivers if Max Verstappen decides to leave the team for Mercedes in 2025.
The 50-year-old remains in his role as the team’s boss after being cleared by Red Bull following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
Along with dealing with a dispute with Jos Verstappen, the father of three-time world champion Max, Horner has also had to deal with rumors that special advisor Helmut Marko might be suspended from the team, which were eventually refuted.
There appears to be division amongst important team members as a result of Verstappen’s unexpected statement that he would quit the squad should Marko, 81, be fired. Even though Horner has only had positive things to say about Verstappen, the Dutchman doesn’t seem eager to publicly support his under-pressure boss.
According to reports, it is becoming more and more obvious that Verstappen would probably leave the team if Horner stays as team captain. Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes, has shown his affection for Verstappen without holding back and would welcome the opportunity to appoint him as Lewis Hamilton’s successor.
Horner looks at two automobiles
When Verstappen leaves
Horner is supposedly aiming to add Alex Albon from Williams and Oscar Piastri from McLaren. Sergio Perez, 33, is anticipated to follow Verstappen out the door when his contract expires at the end of the current campaign.
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Albon and Piastri are both under contract through 2025 with their respective teams. F1 Insider claims that Red Bull, however, is unfazed by this and is prepared to offer “significant sums” in order to acquire the two drivers.
Chaleo Yoovidhya, the Thai majority stakeholder of Red Bull, has bolstered Horner’s stance despite the possibility of losing the best driver in the grid. Furthermore, Horner believes that Verstappen has just been given the fastest car for the past two seasons and that he is not necessary to win races or championships.
Like the Yoovidhya family, Albon is of Thai descent, which may contribute to his eventual return. Before Perez took his spot, he drove for the club for 26 races throughout the 2019 and 2020 seasons after coming up through the Red Bull academy.
In addition, Piastri is represented by Mark Webber, who is still well-liked at the Milton Keynes plant and might be persuaded to take up Verstappen’s position at McLaren now that Lando Norris has established himself as the team’s top driver. Horner, who has expressed admiration for the Australian’s skills, previously disclosed that he attempted to sign the driver before Alpine signed him as a reserve.