What if Max Verstappen left Red Bull earlier than expected? The Dutch champion, tired by the difficulties of his car and attracted by new challenges, could well rebatter the transfers market cards.
Formula 1 could experience a spectacular twist: Max Verstappen, quadruple world champion, would seriously consider leaving Red Bull to join McLaren in the 2026 season. A daring hypothesis, mentioned by specialized journalists, which is gaining momentum in the Paddock in Djeddah while the tensions between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri could redistribute the cards.
A 2025 high tension season at McLaren?
On the set of
Total Motorsport F1 ShowExperts Ewan Gale and Brandon Sutton looked at the uncertain future of Verstappen, especially after a disappointing race for Red Bull at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Dutchman was able to do better than a sixth place, thus losing precious points against the McLaren pilots in the F1 2025 ranking.
At only 27 years old, Verstappen hinted several times that he could consider changing stable in the medium term. If Aston Martin seems today the favorite to attract him with a colossal salary, Ewan Gale does not exclude another unexpected destination: McLaren. According to him, a poorly mastered rivalry between Norris and Piastri in 2025 could create an opening for Dutch.
Zak Brown ready to do anything to attract Verstappen
“McLaren is not an option to excludesays Gale. If the situation degenerates between Norris and Piastri, an exchange could be envisaged. Zak Brown is not the type to go back in front of a big blow. “ A maneuver that could surprise, but which remains plausible in a paddock as unpredictable as that of F1.
On the side of Aston Martin, there is no shortage of arguments either. With the announced arrival of Adrian Newey and an ambitious engine project for 2026, the Lawrence Stroll team is positioning itself as a serious alternative for Verstappen. The prospect of evolving in an almost usin structure, with carte blanche to develop a long-term project, could seduce the Dutch champion.
Red Bull in front of a crucial dilemma
Brandon Sutton insists that Red Bull will have to review his copy quickly if they want to keep their star pilot.
“Verstappen is renowned for its exceptional feeling at the wheel, and yet it seems lost in the face of the irregular performance of the RB21. This speaks volumes about the current complexity of the project”
he analyzes.
The uncertainty surrounding the future Red Bull engine from 2026 could also weigh in the scale: “If the stable is embarking on a risky technical direction, Verstappen could choose stability elsewhere. And Aston Martin, with Newey in control, is precisely embodied this technical stability.”
An imminent strategic decision?
While the negotiations promise to be tense, Red Bull could try to retain its champion with an astronomical financial offer and promises of technical renewal. But the appeal of a new challenge, whether at McLaren or Aston Martin, could ultimately tip the scale.
One thing is certain: the future of Max Verstappen is far from being sealed, and the F1 transfers market could be upset much earlier than we imagine.
