Why Red Bull should leave F1 completely if Max Verstappen joins mass exodus

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Red Bull should think about withdrawing from Formula 1 if Max Verstappen decides to leave the team. 

It has been a torrid start to the 2026 season for Red Bull as they continue to struggle with the new regulations.

So far, Verstappen and Isack Hadjar have collected a combined total of just 16 points, putting them joint-fifth with Alpine. 

Following the Japanese Grand Prix, it was claimed that Verstappen could step away from F1 at the end of the season.

Will Max Verstappen keep his word as Gianperio Lambiase leaves Red Bull?

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To make matters worse, it was confirmed on Thursday that Gianpiero Lambiase will leave Red Bull for McLaren in 2028.

Aside from Lambiase, Red Bull have also seen the likes of Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, Will Courtenay and Craig Skinner all depart in recent times.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen could now replace Lewis Hamilton but he’s ‘always’ been sceptical about Ferrari

Should Red Bull withdraw from F1 if Max Verstappen leaves?

Having already been hit with several high-profile departures, Red Bull require a major rebuild.

With Lambiase leaving in 2028 and Verstappen potentially stepping away from the sport, Red Bull could be forced to think about their own future.

It is well documented that the RB22 is not yet good enough to challenge at the front of the grid.

Hadjar has previously stated that although the engine is good, the car’s chassis is ‘terrible’.

Without Verstappen, who is arguably the best driver in the sport right now, Red Bull will no longer have the secret weapon that can drag an inferior car to the front of the grid, just like he did in 2025 to take the title fight to the last race of the season.

In addition, losing the Dutchman could also mean that they fall further behind the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren when it comes to popularity.

One has to wonder whether Red Bull will feel that it is worth spending so much money to keep their F1 status if they are only good enough to fight with the likes of Alpine and Haas.

Eight key figures gone in three years at Red Bull – Which exit hurts Red Bull the most? 🤔

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Are Red Bull losing ‘energy’ and ‘racing spirit’?

Speaking on the F1 Insider Podcast, journalist Ralf Bach also spoke about Red Bull’s future in the sport. 

Bach’s theory is that Red Bull could pull the plug if Verstappen leaves, while adding that the team will lose energy and the racing spirit which late-founder Dietrich Mateschitz had. 

He said: “I can imagine that they’ll just pull the plug. Because it costs so much money.

“They will lose that energy and racing spirit that Dietrich Mateschitz had because he was a fan of Jochen Rindt. The new Red Bull executives don’t have that racing spirit.”

However, having invested so much in their own talent pool and a sister team in VCARB, Red Bull will be determined to find their next Verstappen, just like the Dutchman was labelled as the heir to Sebastian Vettel’s throne.