Max Verstappen ‘speaking’ with three-team F1 shortlist as Red Bull exit rumours persist
Guenther Steiner believes Max Verstappen may be considering his options with Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren as rumors swirl about his future at Red Bull. Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull runs until 2028, but potential performance-based exit clauses could allow him to leave early. One clause relates to his standing in the drivers’ championship by the summer break, potentially enabling a departure if he’s not in the top two. With Red Bull struggling in fourth place and Verstappen in seventh, Steiner highlighted a shortlist of Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes as ideal destinations for Verstappen, emphasizing that top teams have a history of making room for exceptional talent. Speculation about a move to Mercedes has slightly cooled, but Verstappen’s former race engineer’s future at McLaren adds weight to that potential option. Steiner suggests that Verstappen’s talent and achievements could prompt one of the top teams to make room for him, although he believes all three will be in discussions with the Dutch racer about his future.
