Red Bull revival boosts Verstappen retention hopes - Schumacher

Ralf Schumacher believes Red Bull’s leadership overhaul has dramatically improved the odds of Max Verstappen remaining with the team beyond 2025.

Speaking on Sky Deutschland’s Backstage Boxengasse, Schumacher praised the post-Horner reshuffle, specifically the appointment of Laurent Mekies as team principal following Christian Horner’s sudden dismissal.

“Red Bull made a brilliant move putting Mekies in charge,” Schumacher said. “It brought something to the team. In a short time, the mood changed a lot, the approach became completely different.”

Schumacher has been a vocal critic of Horner throughout Red Bull’s internal power struggles, which paralleled rising speculation about Verstappen’s potential switch to Mercedes. Now, however, he sees a reversal in tone.

He said: “I think the summer break will be used to weigh the options: is it Red Bull, or is Mercedes the better option under the new regulations? Max, his father, and his manager will sit down in classic style and decide.”

Schumacher added that Horner’s departure may open the door for high-level technical hires who previously avoided Red Bull.

“That was a problem before. With Horner at the helm, a number of established Formula 1 names didn’t want to participate,” he said.

Schumacher suggested Verstappen could stay if Red Bull outlines a convincing technical roadmap for 2026. “If there’s a list that can be presented to Max, ‘this is where we’re going, it’ll take a year’, then I can definitely see him staying. It’s like Alonso with the Newey-Honda project.”

The former Williams driver also noted Verstappen’s deep connection to Red Bull.

“He owes everything to Red Bull. If everything is good here, why leave?” Rumours persist that Verstappen met with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff during the summer break, with George Russell potentially being moved aside to make room.

“I can’t see Russell being Max’s first choice as a team-mate,” Schumacher added.

Russell, for his part, appeared unfazed, saying: “I have thick skin, and quite honestly, I don’t care what’s written or what rumours are being spread. I prefer to concentrate on my work.”