A former Red Bull mechanic has predicted that Max Verstappen will secure his fifth consecutive Formula One drivers' championship this year before walking away from the sport entirely.
Calum Nicholas, who previously worked with the Red Bull pit crew, made the bold claim during an appearance on Lucas Stewart's YouTube channel.
When asked how many titles he believed Verstappen would win, Nicholas responded: "Five. I think Max is going to win the Drivers' this year, and then I think he's going to call it a day."
The prediction comes despite Verstappen currently sitting third in the championship standings, trailing McLaren's Oscar Piastri by 49 points.
A former Red Bull mechanic has predicted that Max Verstappen will secure his fifth consecutive Formula One drivers' championship this year before walking away from the sport entirely
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Nicholas acknowledged he had no inside information about the Dutch driver's future plans but remained confident in his assessment.
The 27-year-old Verstappen faces a significant challenge to match Michael Schumacher's record of five consecutive titles, with McLaren's Piastri leading the standings by 10 points from team-mate Lando Norris.
Verstappen's task became even more difficult following his latest setback at the Spanish Grand Prix, where he dropped from fifth to tenth place after receiving a penalty for colliding with Mercedes driver George Russell.
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Max Verstappen has struggled for consistency at Red Bull so far this year
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Despite the mounting obstacles, Nicholas insisted that backing against Verstappen would be "lunacy", praising the Red Bull driver's exceptional abilities.
Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull on a £60 million annual retainer until 2028, though the agreement includes opt-out clauses.
He has indicated to the team his intention to stay at least through next year, but incoming regulation changes mean he may wait to assess Red Bull's adaptation before deciding his future.
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Previous reports have suggested potential moves to Mercedes or Aston Martin in 2027, with sources close to Verstappen indicating that if the driver were to leave Red Bull, he would only switch teams once in his career.
His current campaign has proved challenging, with Piastri maintaining the fastest pace on the grid for much of the 2025 season.
Nicholas elaborated on his reasoning for backing the Red Bull driver: "To not back Max is just like lunacy, I think. The guy is just really really good.
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"Not in terms of just his technical skill and his talent, but I've watched Max grow into this guy that can do everything. He does everything well now."
Verstappen recently became a father for the first time, welcoming daughter Lily with girlfriend Kelly Piquet in May.
Max Verstappen currently trails Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the race for the F1 Drivers' Championship
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The birth makes him one of only two drivers with children on the current F1 grid alongside Nico Hulkenberg.
His rivals dismissed suggestions that fatherhood might affect his competitiveness, with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton offering congratulations and noting how excited Verstappen appeared about the new arrival.
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