A former F1 driver has tipped Red Bull star Max Verstappen to leave the team and join one of their biggest rivals in a move that could change everything.
Following a record-breaking 24-race season, the Formula One season came to an end last weekend in Abu Dhabi.
Weeks before the season finale, Verstappen sealed his fourth consecutive drivers' championship title with Red Bull Racing, beating McLaren's Lando Norris.
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But now, a former driver has spoken out to suggest he thinks that the Red Bull star could be set to leave the team in the near future to join one of their biggest rivals.
Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has backed the Dutchman to leave Red Bull at the end of the 2026 season if he feels that the car isn't going to be good enough for him to continue his dominance in the sport.
Speaking to Instant Casino, via the Daily Express, Montoya said: “I think Max Verstappen will end up leaving in a couple of years. He won’t leave the sport. It’s the ultimate. He’ll leave Red Bull.
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“He doesn't have it that difficult. Yes, it's hard because he works really hard. He has a stable job. And he kind of controls a lot of what happens.
“The big question is, is Max willing to play it cool if '26 is bad? If Red Bull comes with the powertrains and it's not where it needs to be, is Max going to be happy running 10th? No."
And should he decide to leave the team that he has spent nearly a decade with, Montoya thinks that the four-time champion will join Mercedes, the team that Red Bull has been locked in a fierce rivalry with for several years.
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“Mercedes comes with an offer, he is going to jump ship straight away," asserted Montoya.
"It's very easy to be loyal when you win races. If I were in his shoes, for sure I would be looking at that already.
“It would surprise me if he's not. Publicly he would say, ’No way,’ but internally I would be surprised if a conversation was not going on.”
Topics: Max Verstappen, Mercedes, Formula 1, Red Bull Racing
Ben McCrum