Verstappen was not pleased to be released with hard tyres, to be the only pilot to have hard tyres. He was a little diplomatic after the race, because he has hot temper on the moment but does not like to pour water on a drowning man after the race.AR3-GP wrote: ↑02 Jun 2025, 05:42@PierreWache, I think you're all wrong about the situation. Ver has not decided to go anywhere. He was pleased with the 3 stop strategy and generally not too bothered about the day. He did not criticize the decision to use the hard tire after the race. He said he didn't know which tire would have been better. It was all rather reasonable takes. I'm sure he will be at RBR next year. For all the grief that the RBR technical team receives and all the CVs distributed to rivals, there's only 1 team ahead. I wouldn't trust any other teams other than Mclaren.
In 2026, I think VER will do select endurance races while RBR sort the PU and car out. He knows that is coming...If RBR build up to something by end of 2026, then he stays. If not, accept proposals from other teams. For RBR they have plenty of talents. I can see Hadjar and Lindblad at the team if Max leaves. That is going to be a very strong line up.
Marko said it was the wrong choice, Leclerc said he knew it would be easy to pass because the hard tyres were ---.
RB being midly competitive at the hands of Verstappen now has nothing to do with 2026 or the quality of the current Red Bull team. They are only living off the legacy of the 2022 RB developement team, but each year it becomes more tenuous as the new work done on the car does not match the quality of the work done by the old team who left.
At this pace, nothing will remain soon. And with the new reg, it could be a year zero next year. I don't know why it should be expected that Verstappen waste 1-2 years of his career to see if Red Bull is going to be a top team again. That's a big gamble. He isn't 18 anymore and other teams will look like to hire him.