Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes Max Verstappen will inevitably depart Purple Bull to hitch Mercedes.
Verstappen’s F1 future has dominated the media headlines over the previous month.
Whereas Mercedes was inquisitive about signing Verstappen final 12 months, as Toto Wolff went public together with his flirting with the four-time world champion, the rumours now seem extra critical.
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are out of contract on the finish of this 12 months, making a transfer to signal Verstappen doable.
When it comes to Russell, he’s arguably been the very best driver on the grid in 2025.
Nonetheless, a Verstappen-Russell mixture may show to be difficult to deal with.
Antonelli is taken into account Mercedes’ scorching prospect for the longer term, however the Italian is way from able to go head-to-head with a driver of Verstappen’s expertise.
Schumacher is adamant that Verstappen should depart Purple Bull to style success once more in F1.
“Properly, what can I say? Little doubt nobody in Salzburg will wish to hear this, however the omens aren’t precisely beneficial for Purple Bull in the mean time,” Schumacher stated on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast
“Meaning Max Verstappen should look elsewhere anyway if he needs to attain success once more within the brief time period.
“At the very least I feel so, as a result of we also needs to not neglect that new engines are coming and with them something continues to be doable.”
Verstappen camp “know the place he’s going”
Verstappen has remained a part of the Purple Bull secure since making his F1 debut in 2015.
As a 17-year-old, Verstappen began with Toro Rosso (now Racing Bulls).
Verstappen was promoted after a couple of races in 2016, profitable on his Purple Bull debut.
He must wait till 2021 to style title success, with the alliance with Honda taking part in an important function in having the ability to problem Mercedes.
Schumacher acknowledged that Verstappen is “connected” to Purple Bull however nonetheless thinks he’ll swap to Mercedes.
“That’s why I actually suppose his journey will proceed at Mercedes, though I can think about he may have a tough time with that too,” he added.
“He’s clearly connected to Purple Bull. We’ve talked about it greater than as soon as, that he owes Purple Bull an terrible lot.
“However his administration and his father, who has been in F1 for a very long time himself, already know the place he’s going. So I actually suppose it is going to be Mercedes.”
