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Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull could spell disaster for the team, according to former F1 driver Riccardo Patrese.
Riccardo Patrese stated that Red Bull’s performance in F1 would be impacted if Max Verstappen were to depart from the team based in Milton Keynes. He mentioned that without Verstappen, the team would likely struggle and be at the back of the grid, as shown by Yuki Tsunoda’s performance. Despite Verstappen’s success in carrying the RB20 to the championship last year, the development issues have persisted with the RB21 this season. Patrese emphasized the influence of Adrian Newey on the current car, but expressed concerns for the team’s performance post-2026 when new regulations will be in place. He highlighted the potential downfall of Red Bull without Verstappen’s exceptional driving abilities and Newey’s engineering expertise. Patrese’s comments reflect apprehension about a possible decline in Red Bull’s competitiveness in F1 if key elements like Verstappen and Newey were to no longer be part of the team.
