P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull F1 chiefs have ‘given up’ Verstappen fight
Red Bull’s attempts to keep Max Verstappen interested in his F1 future have reportedly ceased, as the Dutch driver’s hopes of matching Schumacher’s record have dwindled halfway through the 2025 season.
The shock dismissal of team principal Christian Horner led to Laurent Mekies taking over, but rumors suggest Verstappen’s interest in a move to Mercedes may still materialize.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff confirmed talks with Verstappen, hinting at a potential switch to the Silver Arrows, while Ralf Schumacher believes Red Bull may have given up trying to retain him.
Despite Red Bull’s past dominance in 2022 and 2023, their recent struggles could push Verstappen towards a McLaren move as they continue to outperform him on the track.
With Verstappen currently trailing in the drivers’ championship and facing design issues within the team, his decision on the future contract is eagerly awaited around the summer break.
