Ralf Schumacher doubts ‘impatient’ Max Verstappen will give Red Bull the time they need

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Ralf Schumacher has shared his doubts over Max Verstappen standing by Red Bull as they attempt to rebuild their F1 team amid a mass exodus regarding key personnel.

Max Verstappen’s future in F1 continues to be a hot topic inside the paddock, with it remaining unknown whether he will continue to race for Red Bull, find greener pastures with another outfit on the grid, or depart from the sport entirely.

Some F1 paddock figures think Verstappen is playing a ‘strategic’ game regarding his comments on retirement. A sabbatical has also been tipped for the Dutchman, with the possibility of him returning at a point in time at which he is more satisfied with F1’s ruleset.

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In terms of a complete exit, 1996 world champion Damon Hill thinks the ‘share price’ of F1 would tank without one of the sport’s most intriguing figures.

The former Williams star noted that Bernie Ecclestone always feared his star drivers moving to some of F1’s rival categories, and it could potentially be an option for Verstappen if he does opt to call it a day on his time in the pinnacle of single-seater racing.

• READ MORE: Red Bull are hoping Max Verstappen decides to stay when he sees ‘incredible’ £65m wind tunnel

Ralf Schumacher details the ‘two possibilities’ Max Verstappen now has regarding his future in F1

During a recent episode of the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, F1 pundit Ralf Schumacher touched upon the two clear possibilities that Verstappen currently has regarding his future in the sport.

“There are now two possibilities,” Schumacher said. “Either Max Verstappen wants to quit, I don’t think that’s the case, or everything is being arranged for him to move to a team where there’s a better future for him.”

The six-time Grand Prix winner then highlighted how he doesn’t think Red Bull is an ‘option’ for the four-time world champion due to the amount of time that is necessary for them to rebuild the team around him.

“One thing is also clear: in my view, Red Bull needs time now, quite a bit of time, and Max is very impatient,” Schumacher continued.

“So, I’m not entirely sure whether it’s an option for him to really stick it out until the right people are in place, until it works – we’re talking about two to three years at least. So that could well be the case.”

He then identified McLaren as a suitable option for Verstappen, due to their status as a Mercedes engine customer, as well as their acquisition of the Dutchman’s current race engineer for the 2028 season.

He added, “McLaren is a good team, and they have one of the best engines in Formula 1. So, with Zak Brown in the background, he’s already tried that before. And obviously, I mean, if Max Verstappen is available, then you have to go for it.”

• READ MORE: Martin Brundle warns Max Verstappen it won’t be ‘easy’ to leave Red Bull in 2027

Oscar Piastri has been tipped as a replacement for Max Verstappen at Red Bull

Interestingly, a swap between Oscar Piastri and Verstappen at their respective teams on the F1 grid has been touted by a couple of figures within the Grand Prix paddock.

F1 commentator Alex Jacques thinks Red Bull would ‘undoubtedly’ target Piastri if his 2025 title rival opts to depart from the set-up in Milton Keynes, but highlighted that there are no guarantees the Australian would want to leave McLaren.

However, James Hinchcliffe thinks Red Bull could convince Piastri to swap sides by offering him the role as the number one driver for Red Bull amongst their army of younger drivers.

Given the fact he is a proven race winner, the 25-year-old could give the Austrian constructor a period of consistency before potentially handing the baton over to a Red Bull junior.