Jos Verstappen, father of Max Verstappen, remains guarded regarding a potential team change, even as it becomes increasingly likely that Adrian Newey will exit Red Bull to join another leading F1 team.
Rumours about this possible shift coincide with discussions that Max Verstappen, the three-time world champion at age 26, might consider leaving Red Bull, especially with an impending discussion with senior Mercedes officials scheduled after the Miami Grand Prix.
"I think everyone wants Max," Jos Verstappen disclosed while participating in the Rallye de Wallonie, according to racexpress.nl. "He has a fast car, but we also have to look further ahead."
It appears that the ongoing unrest within the team—highlighted by the controversy surrounding Christian Horner—provides an ideal moment for the Dutch racer to evaluate his future, particularly with reservations about Red Bull's upcoming engine program for 2026.
Although Max is contractually tied to Red Bull until 2028, certain exit clauses have recently come to light.
"We are also looking at 2026, so we are letting everything happen a bit," Jos, who is also a former F1 driver, mentioned. "We will remain very calm and see what will happen."
For the time being, Jos Verstappen chooses to be cautious when speaking about the rumours regarding Newey's departure.
"Normally I wouldn't say anything about it," Jos commented. "What else can I say about it? I don't know anything else about it."
"I know that there is basically a deal between him and Red Bull," he continued, amid speculation that Newey's contract extends until the end of next year. "We'll see about the rest. I can't say anything about that."
Regarding Newey, Jos added, "We all know what he has achieved and how good he is."
On the other side, Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes, is observing the developments at Red Bull, expressing a clear interest in having Verstappen replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton starting in 2025.
"I think a few factors play a role, but he's the one who is going to trigger some more dominos to fall," Wolff remarked, referring to Max. "Everybody is waiting for what he's going to do."
