Ex-F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has issued an ominous prediction: Max Verstappen will leave Red Bull at the end of the 2025 season if the team fails to deliver a competitive car by Imola.
Following a lackluster Bahrain Grand Prix, where Verstappen struggled to a P6 finish, the four-time world champion’s future with the Milton Keynes outfit is under intense scrutiny.
With internal tensions flaring and the RB21’s performance faltering on the back of performances inconsistencies and mechanical gremlins, Red Bull faces a critical juncture.
Schumacher believes that the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola could prove to be a turning point – one that determines whether Verstappen stays or seeks greener pastures.
‘Verstappen Will Definitely Leave’ if Red Bull Fails to Deliver
Speaking to Sky Germany, Schumacher believes Verstappen’s patience is nearing its limit amid Red Bull’s current slump.
"I'm pretty sure that if the upgrade to the car doesn't take effect by Imola and the new engine – I'm just talking about rumours now – doesn't run quite as well, Max Verstappen will definitely leave the team," Schumacher said.
The pressure is now squarely on Red Bull to turn things around in the next few weeks.
While there are whispers of Verstappen being courted by rival teams, Schumacher is convinced that any top-tier team would do whatever it takes to sign him – starting with Mercedes, despite George Russell nearing a new deal with the Brackley squad and team boss Toto Wolff reiterating his commitment to Kimi Antonelli’s future.
“You absolutely have to get this driver and want to have him,” Schumacher insisted, before also floating Aston Martin as a realistic option.
“Together with Adrian Newey, whom he knows very well. In addition, Honda, which he knows very well, and also a factory that has a future.”
Marko: ‘Very Alarming’ Times at Red Bull
After last weekend’s spectacularly disappointing display in Bahrain, Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, painted a grim picture of the team’s situation.
“It’s a very difficult day for Red Bull; that's obvious to all of us,” Marko told the press.
“We have to get, as soon as possible, performance in the car again and also standards like a pitstop have to work. The car is not the fastest and then the pit stops are not working. That is not acceptable."
“Very alarming. We know that we are not competitive, and there will be parts coming in the coming races, and hopefully they bring improvement.”
“We have a lot of problems. The main problem is balance and grip. And out of this, so I guess the problems with the brakes came up. And then the normal procedure like a pitstop is not working, so one [issue] comes after the other.”
Read also: Brundle warns of ‘heavy conversations’ brewing at Red BullA crisis meeting in Sakhir involving Marko, Christian Horner, Pierre Wache, and Paul Monaghan, coupled with a heated exchange between Marko and Verstappen’s manager, underscored the team’s disarray.
Red Bull is undeniably under pressure not just to find performance, but to restore harmony within the team and keep its superstar driver from looking elsewhere.
Schumacher’s prediction may sound bold, but with Verstappen’s ambitions undimmed and Red Bull's dominance faltering, the balance of power in Formula 1 could be on the verge of a major shift.
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