Last Updated on April 6 2026, 9:35 am
Verstappen exit talk grows as Red Bull turmoil deepens – Max Verstappen’s uncertain future in Formula 1 has taken another dramatic turn, with concerns emerging not just from within the team, but from Red Bull Racing itself.
In a development that is sure to raise eyebrows across the paddock, TJ13 has learned that another long-standing Red Bull team member is set to leave, citing a change in the internal atmosphere as the main reason for his departure.
The timing could hardly be more significant.
“I Think About Everything” – Verstappen’s Doubts Intensify
Verstappen’s post-race comments in Japan sent shockwaves through the sport. The four-time world champion admitted that he is “thinking about everything”, including the possibility of retiring from Formula 1 altogether.
This is no longer mere speculation, it is an active consideration by a driver of whether the sport still aligns with his priorities.
The Dutchman has made it clear that his dissatisfaction is not purely rooted in results. Instead, it stems from a deeper disconnect with the current regulations and the driving style they demand, something he has repeatedly criticised throughout the season.
More tellingly, Verstappen pointed to his life away from racing as a growing pull. Spending time with family and enjoying a sense of normality, things that Formula 1 rarely allows, are becoming increasingly important to him.
Red Bull’s Changing Core: Another Exit Raises Alarm Bells
The departure of long-serving mechanic ‘Ole Shack’ is not an isolated incident, it is the latest chapter in the rapid dismantling of the team that built Red Bull Racing into a dominant force.
According to information provided to TJ13, Shack’s decision to leave due to a changing ‘work atmosphere’ suggests something deeper than routine staff turnover. It signals a cultural shift within Red Bull, and he is far from the first to experience it.
German F1 website, F1-Insider, appears to have corroborated the story with their own article on the topic.
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A Mass Exodus of Experience
Over the past 18 months, Red Bull has lost a significant amount of institutional knowledge and leadership.
At the very top, Christian Horner was removed after two decades in charge, bringing an abrupt end to one of the most successful tenures of a team principal in the sport’s history. Not long before that, legendary designer Adrian Newey, widely regarded as the greatest technical mind of the modern era, confirmed his exit after nearly 20 years with the team.
Then came Helmut Marko, the architect behind Red Bull’s driver programme, who stepped away after more than two decades. Insiders described this as the “end of an era”.
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But the departures didn’t stop there
Sporting director Jonathan Wheatley left after 19 years, and senior figures such as strategy chief Will Courtenay and multiple engineers have also moved on to rival teams. Even key garage personnel, including lead mechanic Matt Caller, have left as part of the same wave.
For years, Red Bull’s strength lay in continuity: The same leadership group, the same technical vision, the same inner circle.
That foundation has now been almost entirely stripped away.
The departures of Horner, Newey and Marko alone would have been seismic. Add to that the departures of Wheatley, senior engineers and respected long-term mechanics like Ole Shack, and the situation becomes far more concerning.
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Why Shack’s Exit Matters
In Formula 1, mechanics are often the heartbeat of a team. They provide a constant presence through championship highs and internal crises alike.
For someone embedded in that environment to walk away, citing a shift in atmosphere, is significant. It suggests that the changes taking place are being felt not just in boardrooms, but in the garage too.
Culture, not just performance, is often what keeps elite teams together during difficult transitions.
Verstappen at the Centre of the Storm
All of this feeds directly into the growing uncertainty surrounding Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman has already made it clear that he is questioning his future in Formula 1, specifically whether he still enjoys the current version of the sport and his environment within it.
With Jos Verstappen having previously warned that ongoing dissatisfaction could push his son towards a shock exit, these internal Red Bull developments only add fuel to the fire.
If the team he once trusted is changing beyond recognition, the decision becomes easier.
And suddenly, what once seemed unthinkable, Verstappen walking away, no longer feels so far-fetched.
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NEXT ARTICLE – Max Verstappen Considering Paid 2027 Sabbatical Amid F1 Frustrations
One thing was crystal clear at the recent 2026 Formula One Japanese Grand Prix, and that is Max Verstappen is a very unhappy man. In the FIA press conference he banished a journalist from The Guardian, refusing to answer questions until the offending pork pie hat had left the room.
Verstappen claims Giles Richards had ‘laughed in his face’ following the season finale in Abu Dhabi last season. Having fallen short by just 14 points of becoming only the second F1 driver to claim five consecutive titles, Richards reminded Max of his red mist in Spain where he appeared to ram the Mercedes of George Russell.
The resulting 10 second penalty issued by the race stewards probably cost Verstappen in the region of 9 points that day, so it was not a deciding incident for his season anyway. Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies is reported to have had words with his star driver following corporate pressure from Austria over the image he was portraying of the Red Bull brand.
Max reprimanded for dismissing journalists
Thats in itself is a bizarre tale, given that Red Bull energy drinks brand, the extreme sports they have supported and the rebellious attitude of the Red Bull F1 team have always been associated with kicking over the traces. How times have changed since the death of Red Bull founder Didi Mateschitz. But we digress.
As if to make matters worse, Vertsappen had his worst racing weekend of the season. He was out qualified for the second time by new team mate Isack Hadjar and dumped out of the top ten shootout by rookie Arvid Lindblad in the Red Bull sister car. The RB22 car was “undriveable” repeated Max throughout the…CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
A senior writer at TJ13, C.J. Alderson serves as Senior Editor and newsroom coordinator, with a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing. Alderson’s professional training in media studies and experience managing content teams ensures TJ13 maintains consistency of voice and credibility. During race weekends, Alderson acts as desk lead, directing contributors and smoothing breaking stories for publication.
