MAX VERSTAPPEN ADDRESSES RED BULL DEPARTURES

Max Verstappen has spoken about the departures of several colleagues from Red Bull Racing over recent years. The Dutch-Belgian driver, who won four consecutive Formula 1 titles between 2021 and 2024, acknowledged that he would have preferred some former team members to remain with the outfit. Among those who have left are designer Adrian Newey, now at Aston Martin, and former team principal Christian Horner, who was sacked in July 2025. Race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase has agreed to join McLaren in a senior position from 2028, whilst a number of mechanics and engineers have also departed.

Verstappen told RacingNews365 that public perception of these departures had been mischaracterised. He stated that people tend to focus on the negative aspects of staff movements and present departures as dramatic events. Verstappen noted that such staff changes are commonplace across professional sports, including football, where talented individuals attract interest from competing organisations. He described the situation as part of normal sporting culture, acknowledging that maintaining a successful group of personnel over time presents inherent difficulties.

One pundit has suggested that Verstappen may be seeking an exit from Red Bull following what has been described as a disappointing 2026 season. The circumstances surrounding multiple departures from the team have prompted speculation about Verstappen's future at the organisation. Verstappen's comments represent his most direct public statement on the matter to date.