Max Verstappen addresses major surprise F1 test rumour

Max Verstappen has ruled out the possbility of potentially joining Red Bull's sister team Racing Bulls for an FP1 or test outing. 

As Red Bull has struggled through 2025 with its tricky RB21 car, the VCARB 02 driven by Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar has become a consistent Q3 contender, with Hadjar landing a first podium for the team in this guise with third at the Dutch GP.

Throughout the Zandvoort race, Hadjar was able to keep pace with Verstappen at times, with the idea long being floated that Verstappen could perform better in the more compliant machine than the fickle one he currently has.

However, Verstappen, who drove for the team in its Toro Rosso guise between his 2015 debut and before promotion to Red Bull ahead of the 2016 Spanish GP, has ruled out an FP1 or test outing.

"No, not really no," he replied when asked by media including RacingNews365 about the possibility of such an outing.

"I just need to focus on my own driving and try to understand where we can do better. 

"We are not going to win the race with it, it is not enough to beat McLaren at the moment, so for me, it is not on my mind, no."

Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane has also recently been asked about such a scenario, and emphatically rejected the idea.