Horner To Stay, Verstappen To Leave To Mercedes According To Red Bull Insider

Monday, 04 March 2024 at 23:00

Updated at Tuesday, 05 March 2024 at 09:09

Former F1 driver Gerhard Berger suggested that if everything in Red Bull continues the way it's going right now, Max Verstappen will move to Mercedes, and other key figures will also leave the team.

Although Christian Horner stated during the race weekend at Bahrain International Circuit that his team has never been stronger from within, ever-increasing reports, rumors, and speculations suggest otherwise.

F1 Insider reports two camps within the Red Bull Racing team. On one side, Christian Horner wants to retain his seat with the support of Thailand's majority owners at Red Bull GmbH.

On the other side, there are Austrian shareholders, Helmut Marko, Adrian Newey, and Verstappen family including both triple World Champion and his dad.

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Apparently, the rifts between the two sides are getting bigger and bigger. Verstappen's father recently spoke out publicly against the team principal.

The 52-year-old suggested the team is on the edge of being torn apart and can't continue further under the lead of the current team principal, or it will explode.

The triple World Champion's father, who is understood to have a significant say in his son's F1-related decisions, already told his friend Max that he would leave the Austrian team if he had to, according to De Telegraaf.

Numerous speculations already suggest the 52-year-old was in talks with the Mercedes team principal over a potential seat for his son. Toto Wolff would have no reason to reject such an offer as he is currently looking for a driver for season 2025.

According to F1 insider, Former F1 driver, and a Red Bull insider, Gerhard Berger said: "As of now: Horner stays, Helmut Marko and Adrian Newey quit, and Max goes to Mercedes."

The publication also reports that the triple World Champion can be freed from his contract with Red Bull (until 2028) if Helmut Marko leaves the team.