Ralf Schumacher indicated that Max Verstappen's future is outside Red Bull.

Red Bull Racing faces one of the most turbulent periods since its entry into Formula 1, and, according to former German driver Ralf Schumacher, this situation could lead to Max Verstappen's departure, a four-time world champion.

In statements collected by the German newspaper Bild, the brother of the seven-time F1 champion stated that the Milton Keynes team "is falling apart" and that the Dutch driver might choose to leave, despite having a contract until 2028. "Verstappen will leave Red Bull," assured the man who competed for a decade in the top category.

Regarding which team would lead the race to sign him if he left Red Bull at the end of 2025, the 49-year-old former racer was categorical in his response: "Aston Martin would adapt everything to him. He would probably have the same status as at Red Bull. I don't see that happening at Mercedes,  because Toto Wolff wants to promote Antonelli," analyzed the German.

Rumors about the possible departure of the Dutchman intensified since 2023, when tensions between the Austrian and Thai shareholders of the team began to surface. This internal conflict was compounded by the confirmation that both technical director Adrian Newey and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley will leave the organization to join Aston Martin and Sauber, respectively.

"They lost many of the main players and things are boiling internally. The fact that Verstappen remains so calm is crazy," added Schumacher in his interview with the German media.

The driver change at Red Bull

After the first two GPs, with performance below expectations, the team decided to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda, who will be Verstappen's new teammate starting next weekend at the Japan race, which will be held at the historic Suzuka circuit. As a result of the change, the young New Zealand driver will return to Racing Bulls, the satellite team.

According to Daily Mail Sport, Lawson's choice initially had the support of Newey, who opposed Tsunoda's inclusion. However, his performance in the first two races was not convincing, and a source close to the team directly blamed the management. "Both Helmut Marko and Christian Horner are to blame for the fiasco with Liam," the informant noted. Additionally, a possible departure of Marko, a key figure in Verstappen's development since his time in the Red Bull Junior program, could also pave the way for the Dutch driver's exit.