Verstappen-Ferrari Contract Speculation Fuels Red Bull, Mercedes F1 Turmoil

Max Verstappen's future in Formula 1 continues to spark widespread debate amid Red Bull's challenging 2025 season marked by key departures, including team principal Christian Horner. Despite Red Bull's RB21 car presenting significant performance issues, Verstappen has shown resilience, securing two wins and maintaining a strong presence in the drivers' standings, though currently behind McLaren's leading duo. Former and current F1 figures, including Fernando Alonso and Tom Coronel, have praised Verstappen's fighting spirit and suggested he is driving better than ever, but hampered by an uncompetitive car. Alonso emphasized Verstappen's consistent top-level performances despite Red Bull's struggles, while Coronel advised Verstappen to work harder to uplift Red Bull rather than jump to Mercedes, which has suffered from poor car performance in recent years. Speculation about Verstappen's potential move to Mercedes in 2026 has intensified, fueled by a performance-related contract exit clause and comments from Nelson Piquet Jr, though some experts remain skeptical about the competitiveness of Mercedes' future car. Red Bull's internal upheaval and loss of key personnel have cast doubts on the team's ability to maintain its dominant status, intensifying pressure on Verstappen and the organization to recover.