Schumacher: Verstappen would lose Red Bull status elsewhere

Ralf Schumacher's verdict on a possible Verstappen exit: he'd trade a team built entirely around him for a customer engine and a fight for top billing at McLaren.

Ralf Schumacher believes Max Verstappen would have to accept significant compromises if he decides to leave Red Bull.

With McLaren now emerging as the latest team linked with the four-time world champion, Schumacher doubts another destination would offer the same advantages.

"McLaren would probably be interested, but he wouldn't be the number 1 driver there, like he is now at Red Bull," the German told Sky Deutschland.

"The entire team is built around him."

Schumacher also questioned whether a customer Mercedes engine would be ideal.

"Mercedes supplies everyone with the same power units, but when it comes to, for example, test engines or a new specification, the works team might still get them a little earlier."

He also urged Verstappen to remember Red Bull's role in his career.

"It was Helmut Marko who discovered his talent, and Red Bull who invested in him," Schumacher said. "So there's certainly a sense of gratitude here.

"Where else would an entire team be built around him? Only at Red Bull."

Max Verstappen snapshot

See also: Red Bull Racing's F1 stats and information on F1-Fansite.

Related: Inside Red Bull's Verstappen crisis: Marko knew GP was leaving

About the author

Leopold

Leopold Pleijsier founded F1-Fansite.com in 2001 and has followed Formula 1 since the early 1980s. He writes about daily F1 news, race weekends, drivers and the sport’s history.

Related topics