Red Bull block Max Verstappen from ‘doing an Alonso’ with 2017 switch

Max Verstappen, fresh off a break in the F1 2025 calendar, recently tested a Ferrari GT3 at the Nürburgring, sparking speculation about his potential participation in other racing series.

However, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has firmly stated that while Verstappen can explore his passion for diverse racing, he will not miss any Formula 1 events.

Red Bull Prevents Verstappen from Missing Races Like Alonso

In 2017, Fernando Alonso, then driving for McLaren, famously skipped the Monaco Grand Prix to compete in the Indianapolis 500. At the time, McLaren was struggling with performance, and team CEO Zak Brown jokingly suggested Alonso participate in the Indy 500 to keep him engaged. Alonso accepted, with Jenson Button taking his place at Monaco. Although Alonso retired from the Indy 500 due to an engine failure, the event was a notable departure from the modern trend of drivers focusing solely on one racing series.

While historically drivers like Alberto Ascari, Jim Clark, and Jackie Stewart competed in multiple series and even skipped F1 races for the Indy 500, today's drivers typically remain committed to their primary category. The desire to see top talent tackle varied challenges has led to questions about whether Verstappen might follow a similar path.

Verstappen's recent test in a Ferrari GT3 at the Nürburgring, where he reportedly set competitive lap times, fueled these discussions. Speaking to Sky F1 in Imola, Horner acknowledged Verstappen's versatility and passion for all forms of motorsport, including sim racing and GT racing, noting his enjoyment of the Nürburgring test.

"He's so versatile and he's so passionate about all forms of racing: sim racing, GT racing – he has his own GT team, effectively," Horner said. "He was very keen to run at the Nürburgring. It’s something we’ve known about for quite some time. He went there and did an incredible job and really enjoyed himself. It’s what he loves doing and it would be very hard to take that away from him."

However, when asked if Verstappen would be allowed to skip an F1 race for another series, Horner was direct: "He's not going to miss a race, that's for sure. The focus has to be here on the day job."

Horner added, "I think it’s great that he’s so versatile and I think, as Red Bull, we’ve always been slightly more relaxed than perhaps other teams in terms of the freedom that we’ve given our drivers. But he’s finding that compromise, finding that balance; obviously, the priority is here. But it’s great that he’s embracing all forms of motorsport."

With the F1 calendar expanding, scheduling conflicts with major international races like the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans are becoming more frequent. For fans hoping to see Verstappen compete in other series, it appears they will have to wait until his F1 career concludes.