Red Bull now very worried Mercedes rivals could sign Max Verstappen with Yuki Tsunoda future decision made

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F1 Oversteer understands that Red Bull Racing are becoming increasingly worried about Max Verstappen leaving the team at the end of the season.

Max Verstappen currently sits third in the drivers’ championship with the halfway stage of the 2025 Formula 1 season quickly approaching.

Red Bull have failed to make the necessary progress needed to challenge for the constructors’ championship after beginning to fall away last year.

Team principal Christian Horner decided to replace Sergio Perez with Liam Lawson at the end of last season, before quickly U-turning on that decision to bring in Yuki Tsunoda after just two races.

Tsunoda is under pressure at Red Bull, having only scored seven points in his first nine race weekends with the team.

That will be a concern for Red Bull, but the future of Verstappen is a far more pressing issue given his importance to their continued success.

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

Red Bull very worried Max Verstappen could join Aston Martin for the 2026 F1 season

Although Tsunoda is under pressure, F1 Oversteer understands that he’s not currently at risk of being immediately replaced.

Red Bull understand that the RB21 is proving to be main problem, which backs up F1 Oversteer’s information that Lawson’s seat isn’t under threat despite his slow start to 2025, up until the Austrian Grand Prix.

F1 Oversteer is also led to believe that Red Bull are very worried about Verstappen’s future at the team.

However, although Mercedes have been heavily linked with Verstappen, it’s understood that the team are more concerned that he could potentially be on his way to Aston Martin.

There don’t currently appear to be any other options on the table for Verstappen in Formula 1, with Aston Martin continuing to prove to be an ambitious outfit in the paddock.

READ MORE: All to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Why could Max Verstappen choose Aston Martin over Mercedes if he decides to leave Red Bull?

There are several factors that Verstappen will be considering when he comes to deciding who he should be racing for next season.

Formula 1’s regulations will dramatically change in 2026, and very little is known about how each team’s preparations are going behind the scenes.

Verstappen is said to be unconvinced by suggestions that Mercedes have the best 2026 power unit, with Red Bull building their own for the first time.

One potential advantage from which Aston Martin benefit from is their emerging partnership with Honda.

Verstappen’s four world championships have all been powered by Honda engines, and they’ve all been won in Adrian Newey-designed cars.

Newey is getting accustomed to his new surroundings at Aston Martin right now and is solely working on his new team’s 2026 car.

The question then remains as to which driver Aston Martin would drop to make room for Verstappen.

Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso both sit on 14 points in the championship this season, and have contracts in place for next year.

Verstappen would be an upgrade on both drivers, but Lawrence Stroll will ultimately need to decide whether to drop a two-time world champion or his son.