The 2025 season has been far from ideal for Max Verstappen. Despite coming off four consecutive world championships, the Red Bull driver has struggled to maintain his dominance. The Austrian team has lost ground to a resurgent McLaren, while Mercedes and Ferrari have also shown superior pace, leaving Verstappen fighting for podiums rather than wins on a regular basis.

Disaster in Austria: A major blow for Verstappen

Verstappen arrived at last weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix hoping to close the gap on Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The Red Bull Ring, where he holds a record five victories, seemed the perfect venue to make a comeback. But just seconds into the race, everything fell apart.

It took only two corners for Verstappen to be forced out of the race. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli locked up under braking into Turn 3 and crashed into Verstappen’s Red Bull. Both drivers were immediately eliminated from the Grand Prix. Antonelli admitted fault and was handed a three-place grid penalty for the upcoming British Grand Prix.

Speculation about Verstappen future intensifies

The crash not only delivered a severe blow to Verstappen’s fading title hopes it also reignited speculation surrounding his future in Formula 1. Rumors linking him to a shock move to Mercedes for next season have grown louder, causing growing concern within Red Bull.

Sources in the paddock suggest Verstappen is increasingly dissatisfied with Red Bull 2025 car and its inability to consistently challenge for wins. His hunger to become one of the sport’s all-time greats may be clashing with the current limitations of the energy drink-backed team.

A move to Mercedes on the horizon?

Mercedes has made no secret of its interest in Verstappen. The Brackley-based team sees him as the ideal figure to lead a new era and reclaim the dominance of the hybrid era. What once seemed unlikely is now beginning to feel inevitable and pressure is mounting on Red Bull to deliver.

The season is not yet at its halfway point, but the outlook for Verstappen and Red Bull is growing increasingly uncertain. Unless the team can quickly turn things around, a major driver shake-up may be looming on the horizon.