Red Bull warned they would be ‘completely lost’ if Max Verstappen walks away from F1 team

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F1 pundit Marc Surer has warned Red Bull over the effects that a Max Verstappen departure would have on the team, asserting that the Austrian constructor would be ‘completely lost’ without him.

Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull has been in question ever since he voiced his unhappiness with F1’s new regulations before the season began.

He’s found a break from those frustrations by racing in NLS GT3 during his spare time. There have even been suggestions he might take a break from Formula 1 altogether, or even retire.

Some within the paddock believe Verstappen’s remarks could be part of a wider strategy, hoping to push the FIA toward rule changes that better fit his preferences.

Meanwhile, an exit for Verstappen seems to be an active concern for Laurent Mekies, who recently spoke about how he hopes Red Bull’s upcoming Miami GP upgrade will help lift Verstappen’s spirits again.

Why Marc Surer believes Max Verstappen owes it to Red Bull to see out the 2026 season

Speaking to Total Motorsport, Marc Surer outlined how much of an impact Verstappen leaving would have not only on Red Bull but also on the sport as a whole.

Damon Hill recently suggested that Verstappen’s departure could hurt F1’s value, a view that Surer agrees with, especially given how vocal Verstappen has been about the changes.

Surer said: “If the best driver leaves the category, for a reason [like the new regulations], it would be very bad for the image of Formula 1.”

“I think we all agree he is the best at the moment in Formula 1, and if he walks away, it would be very bad for the image of Formula 1.”

Surer then turned his attention to Red Bull and what life without Verstappen might look like for them. He warned that losing their star driver mid-season would leave them in a difficult spot.