Max Verstappen reportedly ‘wants to leave Red Bull’ with drastic action not ruled out

///M Power-Belgium wrote

Mate . Are you aware that MAX was just a 17 YO boy in a F1 car ?
BTW : That was a new F1 Record and also a new Guinness World Record as the youngest F1 driver ever and the youngest F1 race winner ever in the F1 history (!)

In his first season , I agree . But in the next season he beated RIC in no time (!)
That's why RIC moved to Renault and later to Mclaren where he lost it completely and was beaten in every race by Lando Norris .

As you can see..

...and that's what I call a watch on MAX's wrist, not these small skinny square ones that cost an arm and a leg.

I DO think there could be some buyer's remorse on Max's part because if I remember correctly, his new contract was signed before the issues with the RB20 became apparent. Maybe it was known internally, I don't know, and yes it may be a blip that goes away next week or maybe next year. But RBR sort of losing its understanding of the car, plus Wheatley leaving, GP moving to a different role, Checo kind of turning into a boat anchor, etc. Maybe it adds up. Basically no different than Lewis's concerns Mercedes had lost its way.

AmuroRay wrote

And in your mind, Lando being absolute dog crap against his peers, and still getting gapped by his very mediocre teammate means him just magically improved.

Your overall logic doesn't make sense. Following your logic, since Lando beat Ricciardo, and Ricciardo beat Max, therefore Lando beats Max.


Drivers skill varies from circuit to circuit, from year to year, it goes up and down across their career. It's not stagnant, ever. Sometimes they wake up on the wrong side of the bed and suck that day. These are just people, like you and I. At the end of the day, Lando is #2 in the WDC right now. Not Piastri. Not Hamilton.

CMW33 wrote

MSN is like 3 months late to the party

Same content appeared on most of the F1 sites this morning, for example:

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-wants-leave-red-bull-action

jkoral wrote

Same content appeared on most of the F1 sites this morning, for example:

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-wants-leave-red-bull-action

Fair enough but honestly, PlanetF1 is more of a rumor mongering, click-bait, how-many-ads-can-i-show-you site to me. Curious for what others here read but the serious ones I can think of are motorsport.com, crash.net, and the-race.com.

CMW33 wrote

Fair enough but honestly, PlanetF1 is more of a rumor mongering, click-bait, how-many-ads-can-i-show-you site to me.

Both articles quoting a report by Swiss-German publication Blick -- so definitely rumors.

TL;DR: Verstappen won't be donning a Mercedes or Ferrari F1 suit before 2026 + given his twenty something age, he can afford a WDC title hiatus in 2024 and 2025.

Don't believe the hype and spinning. Verstappen will remain at RBR in 2025. Toto Wolff had him on his radar for 2025 for the seat vacated by Hamilton, talks were held this Summer but no deal materialized. Moving on, business as usual.

2026 introducing new regulations and RBR cars no longer sporting Honda engines, may be a different story. If Verstappen is not satisfied about the new car and engine and if Mercedes or Ferrari offer him a seat, he will be at Mercedes or Ferrari in 2026.

Not winning the WDC title this year and in 2025 should be no major obstacle for Verstappen.

Compare with Hamilton: Hamilton got his first WDC title in 2008 (P1 - McLaren) at the age of 23. Subsequently, a 5-year WDC title hiatus, without podium in the final WDC title standings: he ended P4 and P5 the next five seasons after his 2008 WDC title (2009: P5 (McLaren) | 2010: P4 (McLaren) | 2011: P5 (McLaren) | 2012: P4 (McLaren) and 2013 P4 (Mercedes)). He got his second WDC title in 2014 (P1 - Mercedes) at the age of 29 racing the Mercedes rocket that would dominate F1 for years on end from 2014 onwards.

Verstappen is currently 26 and already got 3 WDC titles (2021 - 2022 - 2023). His chances for a 4th WDC title this year are threatened by the improved McLaren cars, but mathematically it's definitely still possible (62 WDC points lead). 8 GP races, 3 Sprint races (Austin, São Paolo and Lusail) and 8 Fastest Lap points are up for grabs. Any 'no points' GP finish for either Norris or Verstappen could be crucial.

Verstappen has time on his side and, although always determined to win, he can handle a possible 2024 and 2025 WDC title hiatus. But I trust that he definitely wants to be back on WDC title track course in 2026 with either RBR, Mercedes or Ferrari.

I can see him racing in other car series by his mid thirties. And for sure someday he will compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, maybe with Nyck de Vries as team mate (Helmut Marko won it in 1971 with a Martini-Porsche 917K - he will also give a shot at it).

It's not only all about the car you have - also what you can do with it matters. Of the whole F1 grid, Hamilton and Verstappen have the best skills to make optimal use of the cars they're given (both in terms of set-up and racing). Get them a slow horse and they may still win against a fast horse with a lesser skilled rider. Get them a donkey and they are no competition for a fast horse with a lesser skilled rider.

dfox wrote

He doesn't care. Skill is static in his mind, drivers do not improve, nor do they decline.

Yeah, they don't improve until they PROVE they improve. Lando is basically a mid driver, he's worse than Russell and Sainz thats for sure. And since both of those guys are not as good as the Hamiltons and the Leclercs, where does that leave them?

dfox wrote

Your overall logic doesn't make sense. Following your logic, since Lando beat Ricciardo, and Ricciardo beat Max, therefore Lando beats Max.


Drivers skill varies from circuit to circuit, from year to year, it goes up and down across their career. It's not stagnant, ever. Sometimes they wake up on the wrong side of the bed and suck that day. These are just people, like you and I. At the end of the day, Lando is #2 in the WDC right now. Not Piastri. Not Hamilton.

Lando couldn't even hold Hamiltons boot, I'm not sure why you think he's somehow comparable to him.

Lando is bad, and the stats and eye test prove it. You have this belief that he just elevated his driving when he's been fumbling every opportunity he's been given, including having the fastest car.

Please - direct me and the rest of the audience to his alleged improved performance or stay seated.

AmuroRay wrote

Lando couldn't even hold Hamiltons boot, I'm not sure why you think he's somehow comparable to him.

Lando is bad, and the stats and eye test prove it. You have this belief that he just elevated his driving when he's been fumbling every opportunity he's been given, including having the fastest car.

Please - direct me and the rest of the audience to his alleged improved performance or stay seated.

Just keep an eye on those WDC numbers.

dfox wrote

Just keep an eye on those WDC numbers.

I hope Lando wins - I'd love to see Max lose, but if he does it's not because Lando is better. The dude can barely win a race despite having, 3 - 4 years on his teammate and the fastest car.

AmuroRay wrote

I hope Lando wins - I'd love to see Max lose, but if he does it's not because Lando is better. The dude can barely win a race despite having, 3 - 4 years on his teammate and the fastest car.

He's not very consistent and his lap 1 performance is terrible because he seems to have confidence issues when the racing gets tight. He also tends to make mistakes when he gets mad, you can tell he was pissed off that Oscar went 'round the outside at the beginning of Monza and the next half of his race was crap, mistakes all over. Things he can improve upon, and I think we will see the improvements throughout the rest of the year. It's a new pressure for him and I think he'll move past it.

Bad team calls have also crippled him in a few races.

AmuroRay wrote

I hope Lando wins - I'd love to see Max lose, but if he does it's not because Lando is better. The dude can barely win a race despite having, 3 - 4 years on his teammate and the fastest car.

Just relax mate . MAX will not win Baku and Singapore .

COTA ?
That depends 'if the old rebuilt RB20 floor and chassis will work and improve the cars balance .
If not , then MAX won't win a race in this season anymore .

WHY ?
The RB20 is a nightmare to drive with at every track ...

///M Power-Belgium wrote

Just relax mate . MAX will not win Baku and Singapore .

COTA ?
That depends 'if the old rebuilt RB20 floor and chassis will work and improve the cars balance .
If not , then MAX won't win a race in this season anymore .

WHY ?
The RB20 is a nightmare to drive with at every track ...

Max won 4 of 5 races at beginning of the season with the RB20. What happened to RB showing MB how to do a pod less design. 😂🤣I’m still not counting Max out. Think he will win his fourth title but McLaren will win the WCC.

///M Power-Belgium wrote

Just relax mate . MAX will not win Baku and Singapore .

COTA ?
That depends 'if the old rebuilt RB20 floor and chassis will work and improve the cars balance .
If not , then MAX won't win a race in this season anymore .

WHY ?
The RB20 is a nightmare to drive with at every track ...

I might be at COTA, I'll let you know.

///M Power-Belgium wrote

The minimum age is now 18 YO, according to the new FIA regulations. So, the record cannot be broken ...

No quite, Max was 228 days into being 18 years old. All it takes is a driver who is less than 18 years and 228 days old to a win race and claim that record.

///M Power-Belgium wrote

Just relax mate . MAX will not win Baku and Singapore .

COTA ?
That depends 'if the old rebuilt RB20 floor and chassis will work and improve the cars balance .
If not , then MAX won't win a race in this season anymore .

WHY ?
The RB20 is a nightmare to drive with at every track ...

Win or no win I'm still wearing my 1 hat.
I'm expecting a RB20 mk2 resurrection at Austin in any case.

BeEmVe wrote

No quite, Max was 228 days into being 18 years old. All it takes is a driver who is less than 18 years and 228 days old to a win race and claim that record.

.

M5Rick wrote

Win or no win I'm still wearing my 1 hat.
I'm expecting a RB20 mk2 resurrection at Austin in any case.

At Austin (COTA) with the old rebuilt upgrades it's a 50/50 gamble for the RB20.
It was a very bad sign , that they had to remove all the upgrades while the McLaren , Mercedes and Ferrari upgrades really improved their cars .
Red Bull needs to make a huge jump in no time , because at this moment they run without upgrades in a car with a fundamental design flaw.
They said , a whole new car is needed ...

MAX : I don't expect too much.

///M Power-Belgium wrote

At Austin (COTA) with the old rebuilt upgrades it's a 50/50 gamble for the RB20.
It was a very bad sign , that they had to remove all the upgrades while the McLaren , Mercedes and Ferrari upgrades really improved their cars .
Red Bull needs to make a huge jump in no time , because at this moment they run without upgrades in a car with a fundamental design flaw.
They said , a whole new car is needed ...

MAX : I don't expect too much.

If anyone can, Max can, I presume both cars will be getting the RB 20 mk2 treatment.

BeEmVe wrote

No quite, Max was 228 days into being 18 years old. All it takes is a driver who is less than 18 years and 228 days old to a win race and claim that record.

///M Power-Belgium wrote

.

FWIW, you're both talking about two different things.

Beemve is talking about his first race win, mpower is talking about his first race.

Someone could absolutely come along and beat max to the youngest race win.

dfox wrote

FWIW, you're both talking about two different things.

Beemve is talking about his first race win, mpower is talking about his first race.

Someone could absolutely come along and beat max to the youngest race win.

Yes I know .

Very doubtful in F1 to accomplish that (again) and likely impossible.
As it looks like...