Hill: Leaving Red Bull ‘might be wise thing to do” for Verstappen

F1 world champion Damon Hill believes that Max Verstappen would be wise to consider a shock move away from Red Bull, especially with major regulation changes looming on the 2026 horizon and with his team being outperformed on track by McLaren.

Speaking on the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast, Hill weighed in on the Dutch driver’s uncertain future and suggested that even a sabbatical might be a strategic option.

After a dominant spell that brought four consecutive world titles, Verstappen now finds himself in a less competitive position, with McLaren now comfortably leading the Constructors’ standings.

Verstappen’s position at Red Bull has come under the spotlight following recent comments by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who admitted concerns that the team could lose its star driver if performance doesn’t improve.

The 27-year-old’s contract with Red Bull reportedly includes a performance-based exit clause, giving him the freedom to explore other options if Red Bull fails to deliver a car capable of competing at the front.

Rumors have swirled about potential moves to Mercedes or Aston Martin, but both teams present their own challenges. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, despite expressing interest in Verstappen last year, has reaffirmed his commitment to his current drivers, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, although the former has yet to sign a new deal with the Brackley squad.

Meanwhile, Aston Martin, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll contracted for 2026, currently lacks the competitive edge to entice Verstappen, even with a lucrative financial offer.

Hill: "Red Bull Are Under Pressure"

Hill provided a thoughtful analysis of Verstappen’s predicament, highlighting the pressure Red Bull faces to retain their star driver.

“Red Bull are fighting to retain Max Verstappen,” commented the Briton.

“I mean, there is a clause in the contract. It’s been explained quite clearly that there’s a performance clause, and if they don’t match the performance clause – and let’s be honest, he’s never delivering less than 100% - if they don’t give him that, then he’s free to go wherever he wants.

“So, Red Bull are under pressure.”

With uncertainty surrounding potential landing spots, Hill questioned where Verstappen could realistically go, given the status of other top teams’ driver lineups.

“Where can he go? I don’t know. George is on the verge of signing, they say, with Mercedes again, and then that’s that blocked out. I don’t know.”

The Case for a Strategic Pause

Hill also floated the idea of Verstappen taking a sabbatical from Formula 1 in 2026 – a potentially savvy move given the sport’s impending regulatory overhaul, the birth of Verstappen’s daughter Lily, and the unpredictability of team performance under the new rules.

“I think he could. It might be a wise thing to do when you can see which way the wind’s going to blow after these new regulation changes,” Hill suggested.

“He’s young, he’s won four world championships, he’s won goodness how many races.”

“Nobody knows what’s on the other side of the end of this season. What is going to happen?”

“He could sit back next year and go, OK, I can see which way the future’s going to go for the next 10 years and whatever team is doing well will find the money to pay for having Max.”

With F1 entering a potentially transformative era in 2026, Hill’s comments underscore the high stakes and delicate timing facing Verstappen and Red Bull.

Whether Verstappen chooses to stay, switch teams, or temporarily step away, his decision could reshape the sport’s future just as much as the upcoming regulation changes.

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