According to Bernie Ecclestone, Max Verstappen possesses such a high level of intelligence that he would never consider departing from Red Bull.
Bernie Ecclestone has questioned what Max Verstappen stands to gain if he is to leave Red Bull before the end of his contract.
Verstappen is currently committed to Red Bull until the end of 2028; however, there have been growing speculations suggesting that the Dutch driver might consider switching teams in the coming years.
Bernie Ecclestone: Max Verstappen too intelligent to leave
Verstappen’s name has come up as a potential candidate for the available Mercedes seat, which became vacant after Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s future competitiveness remains uncertain.
Red Bull, in anticipation of the forthcoming 2026 regulations that will significantly alter the current chassis and engine rules, will no longer have a supply deal with Honda. Instead, they will transition into an independent manufacturer themselves.
Despite Christian Horner’s assurance that the Red Bull Powertrains project is on track, there is still a chance that they may not succeed in immediately mastering the new regulations when competing against established power unit manufacturers such as Mercedes, Ferrari, and Honda.
Verstappen should be seriously worried about Red Bull losing their chief technical officer, Adrian Newey, by mid-2025, especially since Mercedes is actively showing interest in him. Red Bull, a manufacturer and team that excelled in the previous power unit regulations, would be a significant loss for Verstappen.
However, according to former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, he believes that Verstappen is too astute to abandon Red Bull. Ecclestone points out that Verstappen has managed to rally the entire Milton Keynes team behind his pursuit of championship success.
“He’s too intelligent to do that,” Ecclestone told RacingNews365.
“Why would he want to go? And where would he gain anything from it?”
Ecclestone expressed doubt that Verstappen would receive the same level of attention from any other team, after enjoying Red Bull’s dedicated focus on him since his entry into F1 with Toro Rosso a decade ago.
Ecclestone said it would be foolish to relocate.
“I believe there is no other place where he could receive the same level of service that you get at Red Bull.”
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Verstappen’s title-winning streak has been exclusively achieved while driving a Red Bull car designed by Adrian Newey. However, he now has the opportunity to join Mercedes, who are aiming to reclaim their position at the pinnacle of racing after struggling with the current ground-effect regulations. This move presents the Dutch driver with the chance to solidify his legacy by securing titles with a fresh team and a new collaboration between drivers and designers.
Ecclestone, however, took on the role of devil’s advocate and expressed his belief that Verstappen should remain at Red Bull. Nevertheless, if the team fails to meet Verstappen’s expectations for 2026, he might find it hard to resist the allure of Mercedes.
Ecclestone stated that the advantage of making choices at one’s convenience, instead of being forced into them, arises from the question of why Mercedes should be entitled to such a significant advantage.
“They were going to use the money for spending. Red Bull is known for their spending habits. He is well aware of Red Bull’s activities and their limitations.”
“Perhaps he would consider that he could demonstrate that the current perception is incorrect, and that it is not him but the car that is truly exceptional.”
Perhaps he might consider going to a different location to show that it is his abilities, not the car, that stand out. It presents a different perspective. However, the question remains: where would he choose to go? Ultimately, it seems that Mercedes would be the clear and logical option.
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