Max Verstappen has been linked with a move to Mercedes in recent weeks, with George Russell confirming the talks are ongoing. It is no secret that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is a long-term admirer of Verstappen, and tried to sign him to the Mercedes junior program back in 2014, before he landed at Red Bull.
Verstappen would be the crown jewel for any team, and the four-time world champion has reportedly opened discussions with the Silver Arrows. However, former F1 driver Gerhard Berger believes that Verstappen will now stay with the Austrian team, especially after the team sacked Christian Horner.
Gerhard Berger says Red Bull must rebuild effectively
To keep drivers of Max Verstappen’s calibre, the team must be competitive. Red Bull is on a downward spiral after the 2023 season, where they won all but one race. However, this term, they have only won two races and sit fourth in the championship. Former F1 Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger says that the Milton Keynes-based team must stabilise.
Speaking to Kronen Zeitung, Berger said: “You could see that things were going in that direction. The focus now mustn’t be on immediately winning the World Championship again. The most important thing is to stabilise the team and properly reintegrate Verstappen. Red Bull is clearly in a downward spiral – it’s now about effective rebuilding.”
Two-Time F1 Champion Points Finger at Red Bull for Not Backing Max Verstappen’s Title Fight
Red Bull has slipped from the lofty standards they set in 2022 and 2023. The car is capable of winning but has often shown a lack of speed. The handling and balance of the RB21 is the biggest issue. After seeing long-term team members like Adrian Newey and Christian Horner leave the team, it might be time to hit the reset button and start again with fresh ideas.
Gerhard Berger says Max Verstappen is loyal to Red Bull
Gerhard Berger has weighed in on what Max Verstappen’s next move should be. The 10-time Grand Prix winner believes that Max Verstappen will stay at Red Bull for next season. The Austrian thinks the sacking of Christian Horner will help Max decide to stay in Milton Keynes.
Berger continued: “Max has always emphasised that he wants to remain loyal to Red Bull. I think he will continue to do so after Horner’s dismissal. The relationship between the Verstappens and Horner was notoriously not the best. His departure could even be a deciding factor for Max to stay.”
It remains unclear where Verstappen will drive next season. Based on the insider reports, Mercedes is likely to offer the best power unit for the new regulations next season. However, Red Bull has helped Verstappen deliver four world titles. Tensions in Milton Keynes could ease now that Horner has been dismissed, meaning the team should be more harmonious. Verstappen’s contract runs until 2028, so the Dutchman might remain loyal to the team that gave him his success, as Berger predicts.
