Max Verstappen has been practicing his profession with Red Bull since the 2016 Formula 1 season.
Various recent reports have suggested that Verstappen may leave Red Bull in favor of another team. These speculations gained strength after Verstappen was seen alongside representatives of another team at the Bahrain GP. In response to these rumors, Red Bull addressed the situation.
The team became involved in a state of internal conflict after the leaking of confidential documents by an anonymous source. Consequently, rumors circulated in the paddock that Verstappen is considering leaving the team due to the ongoing crisis.
A Red Bull spokesperson commented on the matter:
Marko, in his statement, made it clear that he would not interfere with Verstappen’s decision to leave the team for another. It is also rumored that Verstappen’s contract includes a clause that allows for an immediate exit if tensions within Red Bull continue to escalate.
Before the Bahrain race, confidential documents were leaked in the paddock. These documents were later shared with various Formula 1 officials and journalists in different regions. As a result, several team principals raised concerns about the impartiality and transparency of the investigation. Marko has now addressed these leaked documents.
In addressing the issue, Marko expressed his surprise:
Marko himself was surprised by the content of the leaked documents. Furthermore, the octogenarian clarified that he had not personally seen the documents and was also shocked by their content.
Consequently, Red Bull finds itself embroiled in a legal battle regarding the impartiality of the investigation. The team faces the difficult decision of removing its CEO/team principal if the reports are proven true. These reports are damaging the brand’s reputation and the longer this ongoing saga continues, the more harm it will cause.