- This is according to Giancarlo Fisichella who is a retired Formula 1 driver
- Fisichella says no one would leave such a powerful car – the RB20 – which Red Bull is racing with for the 2024 season
- Red Bull is in murky waters following accusations by a female employee against team principal Christian Horner of inappropriate conduct
Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull would be the biggest mistake the three-time F1 champion would ever make in his motorsport career.
This is according to Giancarlo Fisichella who is a retired Formula 1 driver who raced for Ferrari between 1996 and 2009.
Fisichella says no one would leave such a powerful car – the RB20 – which Red Bull is racing for the 2024 season.
Is Max Verstappen Leaving Red Bull?
The Dutch driver hasn’t confirmed or spoken about his supposed exit from Red Bull. However, speculation is rife that he could leave for Mercedes in 2025 to replace Lewis Hamilton who is moving to Ferrari.
Moreover, Red Bull is in murky waters following accusations by a female employee against team principal Christian Horner of inappropriate conduct.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. Photo/PlanetF1
Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen has been vocal calling for Horner’s resignation over the saga which Red Bull GmbH – the parent company that owns Red Bull – cleared Horner on.
However, the female employee has lodged an appeal on the claims following her suspension from the team.
Following the Bahrain Grand Prix, Jos demanded that Horner resign saying that he is acting like the victim thereby causing more problems in the team.
In a rejoinder, Horner hit back at Jos saying that no one is bigger than Red Bull which was a direct attack on Verstappen. With his remarks, several quarters felt that Horner was indirectly telling his lead driver that he is at liberty to leave the team.
However, Fisichella has warned Verstappen against making such a move.
“Nobody expected to see Lewis Hamilton moving from Mercedes and especially closing the deal with Ferrari. Nobody expected that. But we don’t know if Max will join Mercedes, next year or in the future. In the place where he is now with the best team and the best car, it’s stupid move to another team,” he told OCB Score.
Verstappen insisted there is “no reason to leave” Red Bull anytime soon while teasing that anything is possible given Hamilton’s unexpected transfer to Ferrari during a media conference in Saudi Arabia.
Max Verstappen Performance at Red Bull
Since the beginning of his first championship-winning season, Verstappen has won 46 of the last 68 races. Verstappen began 2024 with back-to-back wins from pole position in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Six months after exceeding Sebastian Vettel’s 2013 record of nine victories, Verstappen will tie his personal record of ten straight wins if he wins this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Max Verstappen won the Dutch Grand Prix. Photo/Radio Times
The Dutchman has a contract running with Red Bull until 2028 but maintains that his stay at Red Bull depends on the performance of the car as from 2026 when new regulations come into place.
Asked if he will see out his Red Bull contract, Verstappen stressed that performance will be the deciding factor.
“From 2026 onwards, that is a bit of a question mark anyway with new regulations, but I knew that when I signed my contract. But I also know what they have done for me in my career, so the intention is, of course, absolutely to stay with this team because I really enjoy it and I’m also really happy within the team. And as long as we perform, there is no reason to leave,” Verstappen added.
What Happens With Christian Horner?
While he remains the Red Bull CEO and team principal, pressure is mounting on him from various corners to resign. The female employee also lodged an appeal following a probe by the parent company which cleared Horner.
Reports by The Mirror indicate that Horner and Jos have had a meeting to iron out pending issues so that they do not affect the team ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
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