Formula 1's infamous 'silly season' for drivers has kicked off remarkably early in 2025.
Liam Lawson has already been ousted from Red Bull Racing, rookie Jack Doohan faces rumours of an Alpine departure, and whispers are circulating around Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Max Verstappen.
"Red Bull is falling apart," former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher told Bild newspaper.
"Verstappen is keeping it going with his performances, but they've lost too many top players and things are simmering internally. The fact that Verstappen is still staying so cool is insane."
Schumacher concluded: "Max will leave Red Bull."
Toto Wolff pursued Verstappen for Mercedes throughout 2024, and speculation is reigniting this year—prompting questions about whether George Russell, who clashes with Verstappen, or Kimi Antonelli would be displaced. "If Max were to go to Mercedes, the young Antonelli, who has been performing brilliantly so far, would probably have to go," ex-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone told Blick newspaper.
Schumacher, however, sees Aston Martin as a more probable landing spot for the four-time world champion. "Everything would be tailored to him," said the ex-Williams and Toyota driver. "He would probably get the same status that he has at Red Bull."
On the Mercedes option, Schumacher noted: "I don't see that happening at Mercedes because Toto Wolff wants to promote Antonelli."
Some argue Red Bull erred by designing its car too narrowly around Verstappen's style, but Schumacher counters: "It only stands out there because his teammates aren't good enough."
Meanwhile, Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko—long viewed as Verstappen's mentor and a paternal figure—firmly dismissed any notion of joining him at another team.
"It would be absolutely out of the question for me," he told Kleine Zeitung newspaper. "From my perspective, Formula 1 is Red Bull."
