The future of Red Bull Racing ace Max Verstappen: What Gerhard Berger expects

Max Verstappen has yet to fully come to terms with this year’s car and the driving style required by the new rules. In the latest showdown at the Hungaroring, he did finish second behind winner Lando Norris. Nevertheless, it is clear that Red Bull Racing is not setting the pace at the moment.

This is also evident from a glance at the World Championship standings: in the Constructors’ Championship, the Milton Keynes-based team sits in fourth place after eleven rounds, with a significant gap of 43 points separating them from third-placed McLaren. In the drivers’ standings, Verstappen is currently sixth overall. He is 19 points behind fifth-placed world champion Norris, and a whopping 110 points separate him from the leader, Kimi Antonelli.

The Dutchman has yet to secure a Grand Prix victory this year. And because he never tires of emphasising that he wants a car capable of winning, the rumourmongers in the paddock are happily speculating about his future plans. The big question is: will Verstappen remain loyal to his team, or will he move to another team? And when will he be able to celebrate Grand Prix victories again? His contract runs until the end of 2028, but performance clauses could open up the possibility of him leaving earlier.

Praise for Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing

If Gerhard Berger is anything to go by, the Dutchman need only be patient for a few months. The former Grand Prix driver says in the ‘Formula1.com’ expert panel: “I’m a fan of Max. I think he’s an exceptionally strong driver. And when I look at Red Bull Racing, I can see that they’ve built a brand-new engine. Yes, they’ve brought a few good people on board from other companies. Nevertheless, it’s quite remarkable to hold their own against experienced manufacturers like Mercedes and Ferrari in their very first year with their own engine.”

“Of course, it’s not great that they’re currently struggling with reliability issues, especially when it comes to the rear wing. But the others are also having a hard time with reliability,” the Tyrolean continues. “And I believe that Red Bull Racing and Max can be very, very strong again in the next six to twelve months if he continues to work with the team and they bring a few more good people on board,” the ten-time Grand Prix winner is convinced.