Red Bull fired Verstappen ‘right team’ warning

Max Verstappen must consider if Red Bull is still the "right team" in F1 unless it can return to its "former strength", Gerhard Berger has claimed.

The 10-time grand prix winner, who raced in F1 from 1984 until 1997, believes there is "no question" the Dutchman is the best driver in the championship, but is excited to see if the Milton Keynes squad can return to pedestal upon which it once sat.

Verstappen's fourth and most recent F1 drivers' title was build on a foundation of maximising point scoring on weekends when the RB20 was out-foxed by rival cars.

That consistency proved the backbone and difference-maker in holding McLaren's Lando Norris at bay at the championship neared its end, with the 27-year-old ultimately winning out by a 63-point margin.

However, Berger feels Red Bull must find a way to return to the domination it enjoyed in 2022 and 2023 if it wants to completely close off the threat of losing Verstappen to another team.

Both Mercedes and Aston Martin have been linked to the 63-time grand prix winner over the past year, despite his contract running until the end of 2028.

Once the new regulations come into force at the start of next season, there will be intense pressure for Red Bull to continue providing a race winning car, or it risks losing Verstappen early.

As far as Berger sees things, the Dutchman has been getting the most out of a difficult situation with the six-time constructors' champions, something he cannot continue doing indefinitely. 

"Verstappen is the best driver, no question about it," the Austrian told Auto Motor und Sport. "But before that, the best driver was in the best team.

"In the meantime, however, Max is pulling the coals out of the fire.

"Now it will be exciting to see whether Red Bull can return to its former strength or whether Verstappen continues to have difficulties winning.

"Then he will have to consider whether he is still in the right team."