Max Verstappen Announces Red Bull Departure as....

Max Verstappen Announces Red Bull Departure as….read more

Max Verstappen, the four-time Formula 1 champion, has made a surprising announcement, signaling his intention to leave Red Bull Racing ahead of the 2025 season. The Dutch driver, who secured his fourth consecutive F1 world title last season, hinted at the end of his time with the team after a turbulent year.

In 2024, Verstappen faced challenges that were uncharacteristic for a driver of his caliber. Despite securing the championship, it was a tough season, with the 27-year-old enduring a significant slump in form. At one point, he went 10 races without a victory, a rare occurrence in his otherwise dominant career. However, Verstappen managed to recover and hold off the competition, notably fending off McLaren’s Lando Norris, who mounted a strong challenge for the title.

While Verstappen’s individual performance remained top-tier, his frustration grew over the course of the season as Red Bull struggled to maintain their collective form. His teammate, Sergio Perez, had a particularly rough patch, leading to the team being overtaken by both McLaren and Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship. McLaren, in particular, capitalized on Red Bull’s struggles, ultimately securing their first constructors’ title since 1998, a bitter pill for the team to swallow.

The upcoming 2025 season will see a new partnership for Verstappen, as he is set to race alongside Liam Lawson, who will replace the recently dismissed Sergio Perez. The decision to part ways with Perez came after a string of disappointing results from the Mexican driver, which led to his exit from the team last month. Verstappen’s new teammate, Lawson, will be entering his first full season with Red Bull, and his performance will be under intense scrutiny as he partners with one of the sport’s best.

In an interesting turn, Verstappen also shared his thoughts on the team’s livery for 2025. The Dutchman expressed a desire for a change, hinting that the team’s iconic matte blue color scheme might need a fresh update. “The livery, I hope it’s a bit different. I was actually talking about it today, I actually really like these cars as well with the shiny colour,” Verstappen commented, adding that he would like to see a departure from the familiar matte look. He acknowledged the countless seasons with the same color scheme and suggested it might be time for a bit of variety, saying, “We’ve had so many matte-blue cars, but I think sometimes it’s just nice to spice it up a little bit.”

In a lighthearted moment, Verstappen joked about the upcoming livery reveal event, expressing a lack of enthusiasm for the occasion. All 10 teams will unveil their new liveries for the 2025 season at a special event on February 18, hosted at the O2 Arena in London. While fans eagerly await the reveal, Verstappen quipped that he was not particularly excited about the event, joking that he “hopes to be sick” that week to avoid attending.

As the 2025 season draws closer, Verstappen’s departure from Red Bull seems almost inevitable, signaling the end of an era for the team. The news adds another layer of intrigue to the F1 landscape, with Red Bull now facing the challenge of moving forward without their star driver. How Verstappen’s exit will affect the team’s future remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the sport is on the cusp of a new chapter.