Lewis Hamilton has now exposed the ‘huge risk’ Max Verstappen would be taking by leaving Red Bull

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Max Verstappen has been facing multiple questions surrounding his future at Red Bull at the British Grand Prix. His struggles during Friday practice have only heightened the rumours.

It has been a regular sight for the Dutchman to lack performance on Friday, as he was P10 in FP1 and fifth in FP2, almost five tenths off the pace of Lando Norris. Verstappen was right to question Pierre Wache and the technical department, given their poor initial setup and lack of progression with upgrades.

His dissatisfaction with the Milton Keynes outfit has sparked rumours that he could be on the move. Mercedes are pursuing Verstappen, as Toto Wolff tries to lure the four-time champion to his project in Brackley.

Verstappen’s exit clause, the terms of which are debated, can be activated in the next few weeks. With Red Bull already 255 points behind McLaren in the constructors’ championship and Verstappen’s title hopes almost shattered, he may be considering his future more than ever.

But the Dutchman is not expected to make a switch just yet, as Verstappen may be waiting until 2027 to join Mercedes. He is holding out to see the pecking order under the new technical regulations in 2026; he could have taken the warning exposed by Lewis Hamilton.

Ralf Schumacher says Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari struggles make Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull a ‘huge risk’

The seven-time champion stunned the world with the news that he would be joining Ferrari from Mercedes in 2025. Hamilton enjoyed incredible success with the Silver Arrows, breaking multiple records on his way to becoming statistically the greatest driver of all time.

But his move to Ferrari has not gone entirely to plan thus far. The 40-year-old has struggled to adapt to his new surroundings, having not scored a podium in the famous red colours as he sits sixth in the standings.

Hamilton has moved from a team that was so tailored to him to a new outfit that he has to get accustomed to. As the Brit has shown, that presents a ‘huge risk’ for Verstappen if he leaves Red Bull, says Ralf Schumacher.

Speaking via Sky Germany, the former F1 driver has warned Verstappen that he will have to adapt to a new setup at Mercedes, with Red Bull having built their team around the Dutchman.

“We’re seeing it now with Lewis Hamilton, we saw it with Carlos Sainz. New team, different car, different driving style. Mercedes was developed around Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

“Of course, that could also pose a huge risk for Max, suddenly jumping into this car and giving up the advantage he has at Red Bull – the car there is completely tailored to him, everyone knows what he needs. That could be difficult for him, too.”

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Ferrari could be an option for Max Verstappen if he chooses to leave Red Bull

Verstappen may be beginning to lose popularity due to McLaren’s dominance in 2025, as he could not sell out his grandstand at the Austrian GP. That could arguably give him reason to seek pastures new, with Mercedes being tipped to have the fastest engine in 2026.

The feeling is that Christian Horner would let Verstappen go if he wanted to leave Red Bull. It only makes sense given the incredible success he has given the team in the 2020s, but the Milton Keynes outfit does have time to convince him to stay.

Wolff is ‘open to the idea’; of signing Verstappen in 2028 when his Red Bull contract expires. Horner and the team would have time to show the Dutchman that their power unit can be competitive, but his head may already be turned.

Reportedly, Verstappen’s ‘Plan A’ is to join Mercedes, but interestingly, Ferrari have emerged as ‘Plan C’. The Maranello outfit are happy with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, but a seat could become available as soon as next season if the former retires from F1.