F1 Insider Claims Horner's Exit Has Verstappen Rethinking Red Bull Future
Red Bull's ousting of Christian Horner may have caused Max Verstappen to rethink his future in the team, according to former driver and Sky Germany reporter Ralf Schumacher.
Horner headed Red Bull Racing for 20 years, contributing immensely to the team's six Constructors' Championships and eight drivers' titles. The reason for his exit has not been revealed yet. Horner leaves at a crucial juncture in F1, as Red Bull faces challenges with its RB21 F1 car, and for the first time in the current ground effect era that began in 2022, Verstappen is not leading the Drivers' Championship.
In addition, Red Bull is developing its own power units for its 2026 car, collaborating with Ford under the Red Bull Powertrains banner - a feat that has never been attempted before by the energy drink brand. With Horner's exit, the status of its development remains to be seen, especially since most F1 teams are expected to shortly stop the development of the 2025 car and switch focus to the 2026 car.
Verstappen has pledged his loyalty to Red Bull, as his contract lasts until the end of 2028, but Horner's exit means that things won't be the same as they were within the team. The four-time world champion's links to Mercedes have grown stronger in recent weeks, and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff's acknowledgment of talks with Verstappen has only strengthened the prospect of the Dutch driver's potential Red Bull exit.
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia...
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 18, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. MoreSchumacher believes that Horner's exit could push Verstappen to rethink his future in the team, even though they were "not the best of friends." He told Sky Deutschland:
"I think one thing has nothing to do with the other, that the two might not have been the best of friends. But that wasn't what Max was talking about. Max obviously wants to stay at Red Bull if at all possible, because that's where it all started, and he owes a lot to Red Bull.
"But I fear this valley that Red Bull is going through now will last a while. That usually takes – in Formula 1 history – two or three years. Now, of course, one thing could happen: new rules next year, and they'll find a great approach. I'm just lacking imagination, because [Pierre] Wache hasn't managed to make the car really drivable and good for two or one and a half years now.
"So I still believe that Max is very strongly thinking about leaving Red Bull, and more than ever after this weekend."
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