“Max will reorient himself.” – Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes that a major change could be on the horizon for Max Verstappen, as the reigning superstar continues to lose important people around him at Red Bull Racing.
In recent months, the Dutchman has seen several trusted allies either leave or prepare to depart. Long-time advisor Helmut Marko and legendary designer Adrian Newey have already left, and race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is expected to leave by 2028 at the latest.
According to Schumacher, this steady erosion of Verstappen’s inner circle could trigger a decisive career move sooner rather than later.
“From my point of view, Max will reorient himself next year,” he explained in an interview, suggesting that the four-time world champion may no longer see a long-term future with Red Bull.
An exit clause opens the door
A key factor in the situation as it unfolds is Verstappen’s contract, which reportedly runs until 2028 but includes performance-related exit clauses. If Red Bull fails to remain competitive, the Dutch driver could have a clear pathway out.
Reports suggest that Verstappen must be inside the top three of the championship standings before the summer break to keep certain clauses inactive. However, given the current competitive landscape, where rivals such as Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren appear stronger, meeting this requirement could be extremely challenging.
Schumacher did not mince words: ‘It doesn’t currently look like Red Bull will be in a top position until mid-year. Accordingly, Verstappen is free to do something like that.”
The implication is clear: if performance continues to dip, Verstappen may not wait around for a long-term rebuild.
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The McLaren scenario has raised eyebrows
Perhaps the most intriguing possibility raised by Schumacher is a sensational switch to McLaren, the current benchmark team in Formula 1.
Such a move would reunite Verstappen with Lambiase and could trigger a domino effect in the driver market. Schumacher suggested that Oscar Piastri could make way, potentially moving to Red Bull in the opposite direction.
‘It would also mean there are negotiations for Piastri to go to Red Bull — something we’ve seen before,’ Schumacher noted, referencing the sport’s history of high-profile driver swaps.
A transfer of this magnitude would undoubtedly shake the foundations of the grid, especially given McLaren’s current upward trajectory and championship-winning momentum.
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The Lambiase link could accelerate the move
Central to this speculation is the future of Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s long-standing race engineer and one of his closest allies in the paddock.
Both Red Bull and McLaren have indicated that Lambiase will make the switch by 2028 at the latest, but Schumacher believes this could happen much sooner.
“I can’t imagine him finishing 2027 at Red Bull,” he said. ‘Now it will be about a transfer fee, because when a decision is made this early, it’s usually the engineer who leaves.’
If Lambiase leaves sooner, it could be one less thing keeping Verstappen at Red Bull and potentially pave the way for a blockbuster reunion elsewhere.
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Rebuild or reset?
While Red Bull may be entering a rebuilding phase, Schumacher doubts that Verstappen will commit to such a project. The Dutchman has repeatedly expressed frustration with aspects of Formula 1, even describing periods of his career as ‘boring’.
This mindset, coupled with the loss of trusted personnel and the uncertainty surrounding the team’s competitiveness, suggests that Verstappen is at a crossroads in his career.
Whether he chooses to walk away, trigger a shock transfer or remain loyal to Red Bull will likely define the next era of Formula 1. One thing, however, seems increasingly certain: change is coming, and it could be seismic.
NEXT ARTICLE – Editorial: F1’s Regulatory Crossroads—Why “Tweaks” Won’t Save the 2026 Season
The recent meeting between the FIA and Formula 1 stakeholders concluded with an insipid statement that droned on about “collaboration.” It stood in stark contrast to the growing alarm permeating the paddock; since the first wheels of the all-new 2026 cars turned in anger, the drivers have been warning that the supercharged hybrid power units are creating life-threatening situations.
The qualifying format has now become a farce, given that drivers can no longer push flat-out for an entire lap. This is due to the complex, volatile requirements to manage the harvesting and deployment of their electrical energy. This was partially addressed by the FIA for the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, where the maximum energy the battery could deliver over a lap was reduced by 1/9th, from 9MJ to 8MJ. Even then, teams like Mercedes and Red Bull were using clever algorithms to ensure that on a driver’s “push lap,” the fall-off in power as the battery depleted was like falling off a cliff edge, rather than the intended gradual ramping down over two or three seconds.
Formula One now feels less like a racing series and more like an automotive laboratory experiment, with the cars occasionally disobeying the driver’s instructions. Lando Norris recently recounted a harrowing incident where his McLaren MCL40 overtook Lewis Hamilton without his permission through the high-speed 130R corner at the Suzuka track. “I didn’t even want to overtake Lewis; it’s just about the battery deploys, and I don’t want it to deploy, but I can’t control it. So, I overtake him, and then I have no battery, so he just flies past.” The World Champion then articulated the most worrying element of the new regulations: “When you are at the mercy of what the power unit delivers… the drivers should be in control of it, at least, and we’re not.”
F1’s new buzz word: “the tweak”
Even among the teams dominating the new era, there is no suggestion that the current scenario is all roses in the garden. However, to mitigate the criticism from fans and…CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE
Craig.J. Alderson is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Craig oversees newsroom operations and coordinates editorial output across the site. With a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing, he plays a key role in maintaining consistency, speed, and accuracy in TJ13’s coverage.
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