Max Verstappen is ‘too smart’ to make the same mistake as his Formula 1 idol amid Red Bull exit links

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Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Formula 1 future hangs in the balance after a difficult start to the 2025 season.

The reigning champion recently suffered a nightmare Spanish Grand Prix and dropped crucial points to both McLaren drivers in the drivers’ title fight. Red Bull’s car development hasn’t been at the level required and as a result, they’re now fourth in the constructors’ championship.

It’s a worrying trend for Verstappen, whose hopes of a fifth consecutive crown are being dashed further with every weekend that passes. It doesn’t bode well for the arrival of the 2026 F1 regulations either, when the field order could change completely.

Verstappen realised he made a mistake in an intense battle with George Russell in Spain, after radio silence between himself and his engineer following contact with his Mercedes rival. He received a 10-second time penalty and three penalty points for his actions.

Following the race, Helmut Marko hit out at a ‘nonsense’ Verstappen theory and couldn’t believe Ralf Schumacher’s accusation that their star driver is trying to get himself a one-race ban, so he can trigger his exit clause from the team. It seems a bit far-fetched.

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Max Verstappen is ‘too smart’ to copy Fernando Alonso’s mistakes in Red Bull exit

Verstappen has 100% decided his F1 team for 2026, but he has been heavily linked with two teams. Both Mercedes and Aston Martin could be candidates to host him in the future.

Even though things have improved slightly, Verstappen could seek a Red Bull exit if he fears that they won’t be competitive enough in the future. Fernando Alonso jumped ship often during his career, but it didn’t turn out too well.

Ex-Haas boss Guenther Steiner doesn’t think Verstappen will make the same mistake as the Spaniard, believing that he’s ‘too smart’ to do so.

“He wants to stay there in the moment,” he said. “Where is he going to go? Next year, nobody knows what is going to happen, you know. He’s not going to go now. Maybe he’s going to go end of 26, but not now.

“Because wherever he goes, there is a risk that he’s going to the wrong place, you know. And he is not going to do that. He’s too smart for that one.

“He knows that with Red Bull, he will have some kind of a decent car. I don’t know about the PU, but the car will be decent, so I don’t think he’s going anywhere now before he sees where everybody’s stuck up.”

How did Max Verstappen look up to Fernando Alonso when he arrived in Formula 1?

Alonso’s career moves were ill-timed to say the least. Starting with his McLaren departure in 2007, he spent two years absent at Renault when he could have remained with a race-winning outfit.

He also had offers from Red Bull around that time – a team that would go on to become a Formula 1 powerhouse, but he didn’t believe in their vision.

After sticking with Ferrari for a while, he rejoined McLaren in 2015 just as they hit miserable form, while Ferrari transformed back into race-winners and title contenders.

And finally, he left McLaren in 2018 to retire for the first time, just as they started their ascension, which has led them to where they are today. Verstappen admitted to La Gazetta dello Sport (via Sportstar) that he looked up to the Spaniard back in 2016, during his second campaign in the sport.

“Honestly, no. I always like Fernando Alonso because he remains the same person despite winning a few world titles,” he said.

“I hope that is what happens to me as well. While other drivers have changed, Fernando is the opposite along with [Sebastian] Vettel.”