The tensions within Red Bull are pushing Max Verstappen to lean towards Mercedes in 2025

The story is being written. Lewis Hamilton announced a few weeks ago his departure from Mercedes after 12 years in the star team to join the prancing horse, Ferrari starting in 2025. While the announcement was a bombshell, it could be overshadowed by another one: Max Verstappen’s transfer to Mercedes.

First, Red Bull announced the opening of an online investigation into Christian Horner, its team principal, for “misconduct” towards one of its employees. Although neither the team principal nor the Red Bull group had communicated on the details, the media had understood that it involved exchanges of compromising messages and photos. A few days before the Bahrain Grand Prix, Red Bull decided to close the investigation, deeming the misconduct not serious enough to warrant any further action for its team principal.

However, that was before an anonymous email disclosed details of the exchanges and photos shared during the conversations between the Red Bull employee and Christian Horner to over 150 influential individuals in the paddock including the media, the FIA, the FOM, Liberty Media, and team managers. This additional pressure is causing a cohesion issue within Red Bull, where the director is clearly no longer enjoying unanimous support.

Some media even learned that Red Bull was planning to dismiss its technical director at the beginning of February because of this issue, but it ultimately did not happen.

Jos Verstappen is causing trouble

During this time, in the paddock, Jos Verstappen, Max Verstappen’s father, was seen at a business dinner with Toto Wolff. The team principal had estimated a few weeks ago that Max Verstappen was one of the best drivers on the grid, and that if he did not offer him the seat of his departing driver, Lewis Hamilton, in 2025, he would not be a good team principal.

At the Daily Mail, Jos Verstappen said, “There will be tensions here as long as he [Christian Horner] remains in position. The team is in danger of exploding. This cannot continue like this. It will explode. He is playing the victim when he is the author of this whole situation.”

Clearly, Red Bull’s internal tensions will lead to image issues for the brand worldwide, even though it strives to be rebellious, as evidenced by the words used in the team’s garage decor. However, this may not sit well with the various stakeholders such as Ford, who is set to join the team to power Red Bull and VCARB from 2026, as well as their drivers and sponsors, notably Max Verstappen.

The challenge of winning the world championship title with two teams.

Max Verstappen is on track to win a 4th consecutive world championship title, while Red Bull already seems out of reach for its pursuers such as Mercedes and Ferrari. The Dutch driver might therefore want to jump ship before it sinks in order to seize the opportunity to achieve what few Formula 1 world champions have succeeded in: winning a world championship title with at least two different teams.

With Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025, a transfer is not impossible, as Toto Wolff specified.