The future of Max Verstappen at Red Bull remains a topic in the Formula 1 paddock. For Rachel Brookes, former Sky Sports presenter, the four-time world champion would be “looking for a way out” of the team, especially after the series of departures of professionals who were part of the team’s dominant period.
Read more F1: Verstappen enjoys vacation with Toto Wolff while future at Red Bull remains undefined
“I still think Max is looking for a way out, because I feel that, yes, he is showing all of us what he can do now,” Brookes said on the Essential F1 podcast. According to her, Verstappen continues to impress by achieving good results even with a less competitive car, but the driver wants to compete for wins again:
“And we are all impressed, and we’re like, ‘Max is incredible,’ because he is. But he wants to win again. He doesn’t want to have to show that he can put a car that should be tenth in second place. He wants to win races again. Even though it seemed easy for him before, he still wants the victory; he still wants a trophy at home.”
Rumors about a possible Verstappen departure have increased in the last two years, especially after Red Bull’s difficulties in the current era of regulations and the loss of important names like Christian Horner, Jonathan Wheatley, and Adrian Newey.
Read more Tito Giaffone races for the first time in Cuiabá and seeks leadership in NASCAR Brazil
The Dutchman was even linked to McLaren after an alleged secret meeting in Austria, but Zak Brown ruled out a transfer in the short term. Toto Wolff, from Mercedes, also denied a possible move. Despite this, recent reports indicate that Red Bull made a millionaire offer to keep Verstappen until 2029. For Brookes, however, the departure of important team members may influence the driver’s future.
“I just don’t see, with all the people who have left there now, also, that [the engineer] Michael Manning, the latest to leave, you know, I still feel he’s looking around and thinking, ‘I’ve done my time, I’ve given you all I could, and now I want to go somewhere I can win again.’”
Read more Osman and Zonta compete in the NASCAR Brazil Night Challenge in Cuiabá
