The management of Adrian Newey has projected that Max Verstappen will unexpectedly leave Red Bull in 2026.
Despite leading the drivers’ and constructors’ championships, the team had a difficult 2024 season due to an inquiry following claims of unethical behavior by team manager Christian Horner that was made public early in the year.
Independent inquiry committees absolved Horner of all allegations, although reports indicated that the incident led to some internal conflicts. As a result, two significant individuals, chief technical officer Newey among them, announced their resignations in the months that followed.
Jonathan Wheatley, the sporting director, most recently declared his intention to leave at the end of the 2024 season. Following a gardening leave of absence, the 57-year-old is scheduled to assume the role of team principal for the Audi squad in 2026.
Since Red Bull hasn’t been able to build the car as quickly as rivals like McLaren and Mercedes, their on-track performances have also suffered from the mayhem there. Because of this, the 2024 championship has become very competitive, with at least four teams continuously vying for the top spot in each race.
Verstappen’s future has also come under scrutiny due to the circumstances surrounding Red Bull, with rumors of a move to Mercedes circulating. The Dutch driver may consider his options if Red Bull’s poor performance persists.
Eddie Jordan, the three-time world champion’s manager, has stated that he would not be shocked if Newey chose to go from Red Bull to Mercedes.
“The turmoil at Red Bull, the departures of Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley,” he said to F1-insider.