Jos Verstappen said people "know absolutely nothing" about his son's future. Montoya believes Max will stay at Red Bull, while Fittipaldi does not rule out his departure. The Dutchman has a contract until 2028.
Max Verstappen's future at Red Bull remains one of the great topics of debate in Formula 1. Jos Verstappen, the driver's father, has come out to address the rumors placing his son at Mercedes, saying that people know absolutely nothing about the decision the Dutchman will make for the coming years. Jos Verstappen's social media post has further fueled speculation.
Rumors about a possible departure of Max Verstappen from Red Bull have resurfaced strongly in recent weeks. The Austrian team has lost key figures like Adrian Newey, Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, and the RB22's performance has been disappointing compared to previous seasons. The Dutchman, who has a contract until 2028, has not hidden his frustration with the new regulations and the car's lack of competitiveness.
Juan Pablo Montoya, former McLaren driver, believes Verstappen will not leave Red Bull: "I don't think Max wants to leave Red Bull, you're in one of the best teams, maybe the best of the last 20 years along with Mercedes, you're in the right place. Yes, things have changed because a lot of people have left, but they are still performing well, last year they almost came back and won the championship. I think he wants to see that in the team and it's just about putting pressure on them" declared Montoya.
Emerson Fittipaldi, two-time world champion, does not rule out the possibility that Verstappen could leave Red Bull: "He carries the car on his shoulders. I think he's very loyal to the team, and I like that. I always liked to race many years in one team as long as I could. I think he really has that loyalty... but it's possible he could leave, and if that happened it would be like musical chairs. Everyone would be affected," said the Brazilian.
The relationship between Toto Wolff and Max Verstappen has improved in recent years despite the tense title battle in 2021. The Mercedes boss has expressed his admiration for the Dutch driver on several occasions and has not hidden his desire to have him in his team. Images of both of them sharing a yacht on vacation have fueled rumors of a possible signing.
Mercedes is the big favorite in case Verstappen decides to leave Red Bull. The German brand has the fastest car on the grid and a solid long-term project. However, the Dutchman has also been linked with McLaren, where his former engineer Gianpiero Lambiase has joined the Woking team.
The Formula 1 driver market is in full swing, and Verstappen's decision could trigger a domino effect across the entire grid. The Dutchman has a contract until 2028, but performance clauses could allow him to leave earlier.
His future is uncertain, and rumors will continue to grow in the coming weeks.
Verstappen's future remains unknown. Red Bull wants to keep him, but the RB22's performance and the departure of key figures could tip the scales. Mercedes is lurking, and the Dutchman has a difficult decision ahead.
F1 awaits with anticipation the outcome of this saga, which could reshape the grid in 2027...
