Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen is set to retire this year according to an insider within Christian Horner’s Red Bull outfit.

Calum Nicholas was formerly Red Bull’s most recognisable mechanic, appearing frequently in the garage on race weekends and gaining a following on social media after being featured in the Netflix docuseries Drive to Survive.

Despite playing a key role in Red Bull’s championship success in 2022 and 2023, Nicholas announced last year that he would be stepping down from his position after 13 seasons to instead take on an ambassador role with the energy drink giants.

During his chat with Stewart, the former Red Bull mechanic was asked to predict how many championships reigning title holder Max Verstappen would earn by the time his career in the sport came to an end.

Off the back of the European triple-header, one would assume Verstappen had a fair chance at the title having taken a race win at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

Verstappen is now only one penalty point away from receiving a race ban, which could abolish his hopes of retaining the title in 2025.