Berger suggests that Verstappen may depart from Red Bull following the 2025 season.

      Max Verstappen’s tenure at Red Bull might come to an end in 2025, as suggested by the brand’s first-ever sponsored athlete. Amid speculation that Ferrari will showcase a darker red design this season, there are also whispers that Red Bull might finally break away from its typical dark blue matte aesthetic in 2025. These speculations arise alongside news that Verstappen will don the apparel of Red Bull’s fashion line, Alpha Tauri, throughout the upcoming season. The four-time world champion is also publicly supporting a change in F1 liveries, stating, "We’ve had so many matte blue cars - sometimes I think it’s nice to spice things up a bit."

      At 27, Verstappen is likely to influence this decision, especially given the current state within the team. Red Bull faced significant internal strife in 2024, with Italy’s Autosprint magazine recently reporting concerns regarding both power and reliability associated with the Ford-supported Red Bull Powertrains project for 2026. Additionally, rumors circulate about a billion-dollar offer for Verstappen from Aston Martin, where Adrian Newey will be for 2025 and beyond.

      Gerhard Berger, the first athlete ever backed by Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 1984, expressed his disappointment at the F1 team’s decline from its previous dominance last year. "It is well known that it takes much longer to build something than to dismantle it," the F1 legend told Auto Motor und Sport. "But no one would have anticipated that just six months after Didi Mateschitz’s passing, everything would fall apart."

      Berger, now 65, acknowledges that the turmoil involving Christian Horner last year may have indicated "the beginning of the end." He remarked, "Formula 1 is so complex and competitive that success requires teamwork, agreement, and effective communication among all members." He noted that the Red Bull brand historically exuded happiness and a cool vibe, but now everything seems altered. This was particularly evident in the delay in deciding to replace Sergio Perez. "No one in the professional realm understood why he was still being offered a contract," Berger commented. "During Mateschitz’s leadership, Red Bull was always known for its clarity."

      Berger believes whether Red Bull can recover from its downward trend will be crucial in determining if Verstappen activates an exit clause. "It will be intriguing to see if Red Bull can regain its former strength or if Verstappen continues to face challenges in winning," he said. "Then he will reflect on whether he is still with the right team."