Former F1 CEO Shares Candid Advice with Max Verstappen Amid Mercedes Links
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Former Formula One CEO Bernie Ecclestone has handed important advice to Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen amid speculation about his potential move to the Mercedes F1 team.
Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season, but several factors hint at a move to Mercedes, especially given Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff's inclination to have him on the team.
The four-time world champion has been facing challenges with Red Bull's RB21 F1 car, managing just two race wins in the first ten races this year, a stark contrast to his seven Grand Prix wins in the same span in 2024.
Notably, issues with Red Bull's title challenger began last year, leading the team to finish third in the 2024 Constructors' Championship. Verstappen won his fourth title, but given McLaren's superior performance, the chances of the Dutch driver securing his fifth title this year are lower.
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone talks with Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing and Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Red Bull Racing before the United States Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit of The...
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone talks with Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing and Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Red Bull Racing before the United States Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on October 23, 2016 in Austin, United States. MoreAdditionally, the sudden exit of former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has added a layer of uncertainty to the team's future prospects, as F1 enters a new era of regulations in 2026. Red Bull will roll out its own power unit for the first time next year, which is being developed in collaboration with Ford under the Red Bull Powertrains banner.
With Mercedes being a proven power unit supplier in the premier class of motorsport, the Brackley-based outfit could seem like a more reliable option for Verstappen. However, the 27-year-old driver stated a few weeks ago, before Horner's exit, that he was loyal to Red Bull and would stay with the team.
But after Horner's departure, who was replaced by former Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies, it remains to be seen whether Verstappen's preference to stay at Red Bull continues. Given the reports of Verstappen's ongoing talks with Mercedes, as claimed by George Russell a few weeks ago, Ecclestone has asked Verstappen to do what makes him happy. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, as quoted by Planet F1, he said:
"I think he should be where he's happy.
"And wherever it's going to be, as long as he's happy, he'll still be able to perform the way he's performing now, because he's not a guy that messes around, is he? I mean, very straightforward on what he says and what he does."
The 94-year-old F1 supremo then revealed that Verstappen should stay at Red Bull. He said:
"I'd like to see him stay where he is."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Digital Trends
an hour ago
- Digital Trends
The man who jumped from space has died in a paragliding crash
A daredevil stuntman who set a world record more than decade ago for the highest-ever skydive has died in a paragliding accident in Italy. Felix Baumgartner, 56, crashed to the ground near a hotel swimming pool during a flight over Porto Sant'Elpidio in the eastern Marche region of the country on Thursday. Recommended Videos It's not currently clear if the motorized paraglider suffered an issue during the flight or if Baumgartner experienced a sudden health issue. Red Bull, which had close ties with Baumgartner, said in a statement: 'We are shocked and overwhelmed with sadness to hear the devastating news of our longtime friend Felix Baumgartner. Felix was 'born to fly' and was determined to push the limits. He was also smart, professional, thorough, and meticulous, never leaving anything to chance. He was generous, giving much of his time to help and inspiring so many people.' The Austrian thrill-seeker made international headlines in 2012 after leaping from a high-altitude balloon at the edge of space and parachuting back to Earth. After hearing of his tragic death, World of Engineering posted a video of the moment Baumgartner began his breathtaking descent. 'sometimes… you have to get up really high… to understand how small your are. I'm ~ coming ~ home ~ now' — Felix Baumgartner — World of Engineering (@engineers_feed) July 17, 2025 The extraordinary stunt smashed a string of records, including the highest-ever jump — from an altitude of 128,097 feet (24.2 miles) — and the fastest freefall, reaching a top speed of 843 mph (1,357 kmh). During the first 20 seconds of his descent, there were real fears for Baumgartner's safety as he started to spin out of control. Fortunately, he was able to maintain consciousness and control his fall, prompting applause from his team on the ground. 'Fearless Felix,' as he was known, had a thirst for adventure throughout his life, with his stunts including leaping from the hand of Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue, jumping from the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia, and flying across the English Channel with a specially-made jumpsuit with carbon-fiber wings. Since news of his death broke on Thursday, fans of the extreme sportsman have been leaving comments on his X and Instagram accounts. One wrote: 'Fly high you incredible aviation legend. You have been an inspiration to us all, defying everything that people thought was possible,' while another said simply: 'Today is a sad day. Rest in peace, legend.'
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Oregon Ducks 4-star Prince Tavizon receives ratings update following reclassification
The Oregon Ducks got an update on the recruiting trail earlier this week when 2027 4-star EDGE Prince Tavizon announced that he would be reclassifying and joining the 2026 class instead. With the move, Tavizon now joins Oregon's 2026 class, which moved up to No. 9 in the national rankings. He is the second edge-rusher in the Ducks' class, joining 4-star Dutch Horsik. As a member of the 2027 class, Tavizon was rated by 247Sports as the No. 76 overall player and No. 13 EDGE in the nation. However, with the reclassification to 2026, his ratings were updated by 247Sports. Now, as a member of the 2026 class, Tavizon moved down a bit, according to the 247Sports Composite, rated as the No. 261 player in the nation and No. 22 EDGE. It will be interesting to see how that stands over the next few months as scouts gather more footage on the Lincoln High School prospect. With Tavizon now going into his senior year, more attention will be on him, and more film will be dissected. Despite Tavizon's reclassification, Oregon is still after additional talent at the EDGE in the 2026 class, mainly targeting 5-star Anthony 'Tank' Jones, who is expected to announce his commitment between the Ducks, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Texas A&M Aggies over the next few weeks. Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Skydiver Felix Baumgartner, known for record-breaking jump from stratosphere, dies in paragliding crash
Felix Baumgartner, an Austrian base jumper and skydiver renowned for his record-breaking jump from the stratosphere, died while paragliding in Italy on Thursday, local media reported. Baumgartner, 56, lost control of his paraglider and crashed into a hotel swimming pool in the coastal town of Porto Sant'Elpidio, CNN affiliate SkyTG24 reported. The apparatus struck a woman who was not seriously injured, according to SkyTG24. Italy's national broadcaster RAI reported that authorities are working to determine the exact cause of the crash. CNN has reached out to Baumgartner's representatives. The mayor of Porto Sant'Elpidio, Massimiliano Ciarpella, said on his official Facebook page that his community was 'deeply affected' by the death of Baumgartner, who he called a 'symbol of courage.' Baumgartner, who had base jumped from landmarks like the Petronas Towers in Malaysia and the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, achieved international recognition in 2012 when he broke a world record by skydiving from a pressurized pod about 24 miles above the ground. Red Bull, which sponsored Baumgartner's record-breaking feat, issued a statement Thursday stating in part, 'We are shocked and overwhelmed with sadness to hear the devastating news of our longtime friend Felix Baumgartner. 'Felix was 'born to fly' and was determined to push the limits. He was also smart, professional, thorough, and meticulous, never leaving anything to chance. He was generous, giving much of his time to help and inspiring so many people.' A decade after his famed leap, he described to CNN how he felt at that moment. 'I'm standing there on top of the world outside of a capsule in space and in the stratosphere. I looked around the sky above me was completely black,' Baumgartner told CNN Sport's Patrick Snell. 'I was really trying to inhale that moment,' he added. As he fell to Earth, his speed reached more than 840 mph, breaking the sound barrier. The so-called Red Bull Stratos freefall took six years to plan as the team worked out every detail of the jump. 'We thought, we're going to build the capsule, build the pressure suit, practice for a while, and then we go all the way up to the stratosphere and come back to Earth at supersonic speed,' said Baumgartner. 'Sometimes we'd go into a meeting with three problems and then leave that meeting eight hours later with another five … and no solution for the previous problems.' To get Baumgartner up to the stratosphere, his team had to construct a helium balloon the size of 33 football pitches, weighing 3,708lbs. It took as many as 20 people to move without damaging the balloon's material, which was 10 times thinner than a sandwich bag. But the biggest threat to the project was perhaps the most unforeseen – Baumgartner's mental fortitude. The suit had to be both pressurized and able to handle temperatures of minus 72° Celsius (minus 97.6° Fahrenheit). 'It's very uncomfortable,' said Baumgartner. 'You have a total lack of mobility. It always feels like you're breathing through a pillow. You're completely separated from the outside world. So once the visor is down, all you can hear is yourself breathing.' Soon after landing, Baumgartner said he struggled to process his emotions as he approached the Earth. 'I had tears in my eyes when I was coming back a couple of times because you're sitting there and you thought about that moment so many times, you know, how it would feel and how it would look like.' 'And this is way bigger than I had anticipated,' he said. Solve the daily Crossword
