Four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen is expected to walk away from Red Bull if the team is unable to continue its recent success.
The Dutchman has won four consecutive world titles with the Milton Keynes-based team and his contract runs until the end of 2028, although the team has suffered poor form midway through the 2024 season, with Verstappen failing to won during 10 races between Austria. and Sao Paulo.
And former McLaren F1 mechanic turned pundit Marc Priestley has suggested that upcoming regulation changes for 2026 mean Vertsappen, who will be joined by new teammate Liam Lawson in 2025, could be tempted by a start at the future.
“The driver market is very complicated at the moment because everyone is basing their decision on the regulatory changes in 2026,” Priestley said at Casino Uden Rofus.
“You have to choose the team that you think will produce the best car, it could be a team like Williams. It’s a difficult decision.
“If you are Max Verstappen you would look at McLaren but they have two young drivers for the coming years, Mercedes are not at the top at the moment but everyone knows they are a strong team and very good operators.
“We also know that Verstappen has had numerous discussions with Mercedes. You can also look at Williams who, under James Vowles, is building massively towards 2026 with high expectations.
“I know for a fact that they expect to compete at the top with the best teams on the grid, maybe this is an opportunity for Verstappen.”
The 2026 season will bring changes to regulations regarding the chassis and powertrain of the cars, with Red Bull potentially facing more difficulties than other teams due to the incorporation of an entirely new powertrain that they themselves have same designed.
However, should Red Bull’s performance decline, Priestley believes the Dutchman “could easily retire in the next few years” rather than join a rival.
“After years of continuous victories, a slight shortage of trophies could make you lose interest in the sport,” he said.
“If Red Bull suddenly drops to a mid-table team in 2026, Verstappen will start asking questions. I then see him hang up his boots. But maybe he will see a decline at Red Bull before 2026 and join a new team before the regulation changes, like Lewis Hamilton did when he joined Ferrari,” he added.
“It’s like each of us changing jobs, it’s exciting at first.
“If Verstappen changes teams and everything goes well, he will continue to win, but if he doesn’t win as much as usual, I can 100% see him leaving the sport sooner than expected.”
Verstappen has been confirmed as Liam Lawson’s partner next season and he is aiming for a fifth consecutive championship title, with the 2025 season starting in Melbourne on March 16.
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