Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes that the level of high-profile personnel exits from Red Bull will see Max Verstappen “probably leaving the team at some point.”
The Dutchman is currently conveying the demeanour of a man who’s significantly unhappy with his current place in F1 right now.
With the Milton Keynes-based squad‘s RB22 unable to compete at the very front, Verstappen has also been vocal in his dislike of the sport’s new technical regulations.
This has now been surely added to by the forthcoming departure of his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, who will join McLaren “no later than 2028”.
Lambiase will join fellow ex-Red Bull staffers Will Courtenay and Rob Marshall, and is one in an ever-growing list of notable technical departures from the team over the last 18 months.
Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Palmer has interpreted that this will spark the four-time World Champion to vacate the team for new pastures.
Max Verstappen has found himself battling for non-race-winning positions in F1 this season, and the impending departure of race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will not help either
“That’s exactly how I see it. I think we’re already talking about Max probably leaving the team at some point,” he said.
“You’ve got Red Bull not being competitive, and not having the easiest route back to being competitive, given where they’re at when you factor in all the personnel who have left.
“For me, GP [Lambiase] is such a linchpin for him; it sort of connects the driver to the team. I see this news as offering a more in-depth understanding of another reason why Max isn’t particularly happy in the team.
“And on many levels, I just don’t see him sticking around particularly long, probably beyond the end of this year, unless they have a concrete plan in place and a clear sign of progress.”
Verstappen will, in the short-term, be hoping for something of a Red Bull rejuvenation when F1 recommences its campaign in Miami on May 1-3.
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