Red Bull may offer Max Verstappen a stake in Racing Bulls based on F1 paddock gossip

Follow us on Google Discover

Red Bull have considered offering Max Verstappen a stake in the Racing Bulls team, if a remarkable F1 paddock rumour is to be believed.

Red Bull have owned the Faenza-based team since their inception in 2006, though the arrangement has come under increasing scrutiny lately.

At the same time, Verstappen’s future is perhaps more uncertain than ever and the team may need compelling incentives to convince him to stay.

Could Max Verstappen owning Racing Bulls make perfect sense?

F1 journalist Joe Saward, writing in his Business of Motorsport newsletter, says one theory circulating in the paddock is that Red Bull could offer Verstappen a controlling stake in Racing Bulls.

It’s unclear whether this would allow the team to get around any potential dual-ownership restrictions. Mohammed Ben Sualyem says the FIA are exploring such steps, so Red Bull could be forced to sell Racing Bulls unless they come up with a creative solution.

Saward does write that it’s unlikely to come to pass, but even the rumour itself suggests that Red Bull are exploring all possibilities right now.

The reporter expects Verstappen to stay at Red Bull until at least the end of 2027, one year out from the end of his contract. That’s when engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will be leaving to join McLaren.

Should Red Bull be forced to sell Racing Bulls, or has the issue been blown out of proportion?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Verstappen started his career at Racing Bulls forerunners Toro Rosso in 2015, so his connection with the team is already strong. Such an arrangement would clearly be extremely lucrative, but finances may not be the biggest factor in his decision.

Drivers like Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren and Graham Hill have previously driven for their own teams, but one has to go back to the 1960s and ’70s to find such arrangements. Verstappen has represented his own team in GT3 racing, but any Racing Bulls deal might create a conflict of interest.

In terms of other, perhaps more realistic options, Red Bull could buy out Verstappen’s exit clause, which would compel him to honour his contract.

Red Bull have told Verstappen they will recruit top talent, filling some of the gaps left by their recent exodus, but they suspect that prospective targets will need to see the superstar driver commit his future first.

Verstappen’s manager expects to make a decision before the summer break. While he acknowledges the existence of exit clauses, he stressed that they have always been ‘loyal’ to Red Bull.