JULY 9, 2025

Verstappen future unclear after Horner exit

Max Verstappen’s long-term future with Red Bull Racing is once again in the spotlight following Christian Horner’s sudden departure from the team he helped build over the last two decades.

While the four-time World Champion has largely distanced himself from the power struggle that ultimately led to Horner’s dismissal, the signs of tension have been clear for over a year. Verstappen’s father and manager, Jos Verstappen, has been outspoken about his belief that Horner’s continued presence would destabilize the team. At last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix, amid the leak of private messages between Horner and his former assistant, Jos publicly called for Horner’s removal, warning, “If he stays, he’ll tear the team apart.”

Now that Horner has been removed from his role, reportedly at the insistence of Red Bull’s Austrian leadership and CEO of Corporate Projects Oliver Mintzlaff, attention turns to how this move affects Verstappen’s next steps. His current contract runs through 2028, but there is a known performance-related exit clause, which his management has allegedly activated—opening the door for a potential departure at the end of this season.

McLaren’s clear pace advantage over Red Bull in recent races has added urgency to Verstappen’s situation. With Red Bull currently outside the top three in the Constructors’ Championship and struggling with both car performance and power unit development for the 2026 regulations, the Dutchman’s camp may see this as the right time to explore other options.

One of those options is Mercedes. Talks between Verstappen’s team and Toto Wolff’s outfit have reportedly begun, although initiated by Verstappen’s management rather than the Silver Arrows. Red Bull’s response appears strategic: bringing in Laurent Mekies—formerly of Toro Rosso and someone Verstappen worked with early in his F1 career—as a calming and unifying figure.

However, Mekies’ arrival can do little to immediately improve the underperforming RB21 or speed up the progress on Red Bull Powertrains’ first in-house engine, which is said to be lagging behind rivals.

The spotlight now shifts to Verstappen. His public demeanor during the upcoming races in Hungary and Belgium could hint at whether Horner’s departure has cooled tensions or if a sensational switch for 2025 is still on the cards. A Verstappen move would undoubtedly trigger a driver market upheaval, with potential knock-on effects across the grid.