Verstappen would forfeit Red Bull benefits in other places.
"Where else can a whole team be constructed around him?"
Ralf Schumacher believes that if Max Verstappen chooses to leave Red Bull, he will have to make considerable sacrifices. With McLaren being the latest team associated with the four-time world champion, Schumacher expresses doubts about finding a comparable environment. "McLaren might be interested, but he wouldn’t be the number 1 driver there, as he is currently at Red Bull," the German stated to Sky Deutschland. "The entire team is tailored to him. He also wouldn’t be a works driver anymore, which may not be the best situation."
Schumacher further questioned the suitability of a customer Mercedes engine. "Mercedes provides everyone with the same power units, but when it comes to test engines or new specifications, the works team might receive them a bit sooner. I don’t believe that’s necessarily advantageous."
He also reminded Verstappen of Red Bull's influence on his career. "It was Helmut Marko who recognized his talent, and Red Bull who invested in him," Schumacher pointed out. "So there’s definitely a sense of gratitude involved. Where else can an entire team be designed around him? Maybe at McLaren, but where else does he have a complete team focused on him? Only at Red Bull. So I would be cautious."
"It’s crucial not to underestimate Red Bull. A lot has transpired, and there have been many discussions, likely revolving around: ‘If this works out, then I’ll stay.’ However, that phase eventually comes to a conclusion. The human factor should not be overlooked. Where did Max Verstappen come from? Ultimately, Red Bull shaped him into who he is today. That’s fair to acknowledge."
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Verstappen would forfeit Red Bull benefits in other places.
Formula 1 | Ralf Schumacher thinks that Max Verstappen would need to make considerable compromises if he chooses to depart from Red Bull, especially with McLaren now making strides in the competition.
