Red Bull urged to deliver on performance and structure to retain its star
Max Verstappen has ruled out an immediate exit at the end of 2025, but speculation about his long-term future continues to swirl. In an interview with a Dutch newspaper, his manager Raymond Vermeulen sent what amounts to a veiled warning shot: the team must keep raising its game to keep Verstappen fully committed.
Cracking the whip — by design
Verstappen and his inner circle have kept the pressure on Red Bull, aiming to extract the best possible car, consistency of development, and robust internal structures. The message is clear: sustained excellence is the price of retention.
Key factors in play
- Car performance and development pace heading into 2026’s rule changes.
- Technical stability and clarity of direction across the team.
- Operational sharpness on strategy and reliability.
While there’s no suggestion of an immediate split, the bar for Red Bull remains sky-high. Maintaining a championship-caliber package — and the culture that supports it — will be central to keeping Verstappen in the fold.
