Adrian Newey is set to leave Red Bull according to our sources. We expect him to announce his decision soon. More on the exit date and who might get his service in the future in our AMuS story:
Adrian Newey is set to leave Red Bull according to our sources. We expect him to announce his decision soon. More on the exit date and who might get his service in the future in our AMuS story:
Cmon, let’s be real. No team is “set” when it comes to Verstappen, only perhaps Ferrari because they’re getting Hamilton. I guarantee if Verstappen wanted to go to McLaren, McLaren would make room for him. If he wanted to go to AM then AM would make room for him. If you’re serious about winning you do not turn down a driver of Max’s caliber.
Consider that, first of all, McLaren has two very good young drivers that will notch their first win soon if car development gets there.
Secondly, the Arab countries that own McLaren have to come up with some heavy change for Max with the hope the car will get there. He’d have to have a multiple year contract with several outs.
Lastly, there’s max himself. He’d have to want to move back from the pointy end of the field and hope the car gets there while enjoying the money.
They do, but Norris is not Verstappen. Norris doesn’t even come close to Verstappen.
That’s just the price you pay when you want the best driver on grid. It’s not like RBR is paying Max 40 mil a year to look pretty. They’re paying 40 mil a year because a) there’s no driver from his generation who could match him and b) you don’t want him going to your competitors because he’s that good.
I thought that’s the assumption we’re going with. Realistically it’s not a question of what team would have Max, it’s a question of what team Max wants to go to. My entire argument is that no team would outright say “No” to Max, it’s Max who will say “No” to teams. Max decides where he wants to go and the teams will do whatever is in their power to fulfill Max’s wishes. The only exception I would see is Ferrari, but even there I’m certain Ferrari would at least sit down with Max to see if he would fit in with Hamilton.
There are people are passionate about their favorite driver. Some people are passionate about their favorite team. I’m neither, just liking the competition. Did a bit of racing in my time, and I truly believe that all things being equal anyone can be beat in F1. It’s all about the package of car and driver and team. Max is very good, but hes no racing God. There is no such thing.
It is about the package, which is why teams that want to win will want the best possible driver on the grid. I’m not saying Verstappen is a racing god, but he is one of the two drivers on the grid who are clearly a step above the rest. The other driver is Hamilton and Hamilton going to Ferrari shows that teams will make room of drivers like Hamilton or Verstappen. Sainz is a great driver, he’s the only non RBR driver to win a GP since 2023. I’m sure Ferrari was happy with how well Sainz performed. But Sainz is not Hamilton. I don’t think I even need to sing praise to Hamilton, everyone knows he is one of the greats. Hamilton wanted to go to Ferrari and Ferrari made sure it would happen.
In the same vein if Max wants to go to McLaren or Merc or AM, those teams will make sure he gets a seat. You don’t turn down a chance to get a generational talent like Verstappen.