Max Verstappen may not remain with Red Bull beyond 2025, according to former F1 driver and Red Bull's first-ever sponsored athlete, Gerhard Berger.
Alongside speculation that Ferrari will introduce a darker red livery this season, there are also whispers that Red Bull could finally move away from its traditional dark blue matte design for 2025.
These rumours coincide with Verstappen's switch to wearing Red Bull's AlphaTauri-branded clothing for the entire season. The four-time world champion has even voiced support for a livery overhaul.
"We've had so many matte blue cars – sometimes I think it's nice to spice things up a bit," he said.
Given Verstappen's influence within the team, his preference for a change is likely to be heard, particularly given the internal turbulence Red Bull has faced.
According to Autosprint, Red Bull's Ford-backed Powertrains project for 2026 is already encountering reliability and performance concerns. Meanwhile, speculation about a massive offer for Verstappen from Aston Martin—where Adrian Newey is set to begin work in 2025—continues to swirl.
Berger, who was personally backed by Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 1984, has watched Red Bull's sharp decline with concern.
"It is well known that it takes much longer to build something than it does to dismantle it," Berger told Auto Motor und Sport.
"But no one would have thought that just six months after Didi Mateschitz's death, everything would crumble."
Berger, 65, suggests that last year's controversy surrounding Christian Horner could have marked "the beginning of the end" for Red Bull's dominance.
"Formula 1 is so complex and so competitive that you can only be successful if everyone in the team pulls together, everyone agrees, everyone communicates well with each other," he explained.
"The Red Bull brand has always radiated happiness and a cool image. Suddenly everything has changed."
According to Berger, Red Bull's internal instability was evident in its prolonged decision-making regarding Sergio Perez's future.
"No one in the professional world understood why he was still being given a contract," he said. "In Mateschitz's time, Red Bull was always famous for clarity."
Whether Red Bull can recover from its recent setbacks may ultimately determine Verstappen's future with the team.
"It will be exciting to see whether Red Bull can return to its old strength or whether Verstappen will continue to have difficulty winning," Berger noted.
"Then he will consider whether he is still in the right team."
