(Motorsport-Total.com) – With four world championships, Max Verstappen is the most successful Formula 1 driver who has (so far) never driven for Ferrari in his career. All other drivers who have won the world championship at least four times have sooner or later been drawn to Maranello.
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The most recent example is Lewis Hamilton, who took this step in 2025. But precisely this change of the record world champion could be a warning example for Verstappen, should he consider going to the Scuderia in the future.
“Everything is conceivable. Many drivers really want to go to Ferrari,” says Ralf Schumacher, who explains in the podcast Backstage Boxengasse that Ferrari is a “very special” brand within Formula 1. Nevertheless, he would rather advise Verstappen against a change.
The background is that the Dutchman “would have to subordinate himself a bit in this construct in a certain way,” explains Schumacher. “If he comes into this team alone,” says the six-time Grand Prix winner, “then as a driver he will not be able to handle that.”
Formula 1 World Champions who have never driven for Ferrari
He recalls: “My brother brought a group of people at the time who really harmonized super well together.” When Michael Schumacher moved from Benetton to Ferrari in 1996, for example, designer Rory Byrne and technical director Ross Brawn followed him later.
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Between 2000 and 2004, “Schumi” then became world champion five times in a row with the Scuderia. “Going there alone as a driver, I think that’s not enough,” explains brother Ralf. Lewis Hamilton also brought no one from Mercedes with him when he changed in 2025.
Schumacher can therefore “almost not imagine” that Verstappen seriously considers a move to Ferrari. Should he leave Red Bull, “in my view he will rather only be able to go to Mercedes or McLaren,” Schumacher suspects.
In GT racing, the four-time world champion already works with Mercedes, and Schumacher explains that Verstappen apparently feels “very comfortable” there. Officially, the Dutchman still has a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028.
However, there are exit clauses that would allow him an earlier departure.
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