After the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last weekend, reports have come out suggesting that Red Bull are in talks with George Russell to complete their driver lineup for next year. It has been suggested that Max Verstappen could leave the team if they do not improve in the coming weeks. But if the Austrian team are seriously considering Russell as a replacement, the question has to be asked, why are they not choosing a driver from their talent pool?
After the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, where Verstappen only managed to finish 6th, Helmut Marko suggested that the Dutch driver could leave the team after this year. This sparked a lot of speculation suggesting that Verstappen could be heading to Mercedes.
To add more fuel to the spark, The Race reported that George Russell has been having informal conversations with Christian Horner over the past few weeks to understand where they each stand regarding next year’s lineup. But why is Horner ignoring the drivers who are already under a Red Bull contract?
Why is Christian Horner ignoring their own drivers?
Red Bull has one of the largest driver academies in open-wheel racing. They have several drivers currently racing under a Red Bull contract, such as Tsunoda, Hadjar, and Lawson in F1. They also have an exciting prospect coming up in Formula 2 in Arvid Lindblad. So why is Red Bull still looking at drivers outside their pool?
Right now, the Austrian racing team are in a tough spot. The car’s performance is not where they want to be, and they are approaching a new era for the team with their partnership with Ford, which will kick off next year. Without Verstappen on the team to help develop the car through these changes, Red Bull will want someone else who is experienced for developmental purposes. This is why Russell is a good option for the team.
Is the Red Bull Second Seat Cursed or a Result of Poor Decisions?
Neither Lawson nor Hadjar have had enough time in an F1 car to help the team develop. In the first two races this season, we saw Lawson struggle with the RB21 and ended up being demoted back to Racing Bulls. With Russell, Red Bull will be getting an experienced and proven talent in F1.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. Russell heading to Red Bull will only be possible if Verstappen decides to jump ship. For the second seat, Red Bull would prefer to keep it within their own talent pool.
Can Max Verstappen leave Red Bull Racing after 2025?
Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull Racing until the 2028 season. However, there are certain clauses that provide Max the option to exit his contract and head to another team.
While the details of Max’s exit clauses on his contract are not revealed, it is understood that if he is lower than 2nd in the Drivers’ Championship after a significant part of the season, he will have the option to leave the team. As it stands, Max is 3rd in the Championship behind both the McLaren drivers.
Helmut Marko Expresses Concern Over Max Verstappen’s Future with Red Bull After Bahrain GP Setback
After 4 consecutive years of winning the Drivers’ Championship, there is no one that can place any doubts on Verstappen’s talent in motorsport. While his wheel-to-wheel racing style may be controversial, he has the ability to extract every bit of performance from an F1 car. So if he is lower than 3rd in the Championship, it is likely a problem with the car.
For the remainder of the season, the Austrian team will be hoping that they are able to improve the car and convince Max to stay on for the remainder of his contract and possibly beyond.
Do you think Max Verstappen will leave Red Bull at the end of the 2025 season? If so, will Russell be the one to replace him? Post your thoughts in the comments section below.
