Max Verstappen could leave Red Bull in a direct swap with an F1 rival, Ralf Schumacher has suggested, after Gianpiero Lambiase’s Red Bull exit was confirmed.
According to Ralf Schumacher, there is a possibility of Max Verstappen moving to McLaren with his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, potentially in the upcoming year, as reported by Sky Sports Germany.
Schumacher outlined two potential scenarios for Verstappen: either quitting Formula 1 altogether due to a lack of belief in Red Bull or joining McLaren, which could lead to a swap deal involving Oscar Piastri.
The discussion surprisingly omitted Mercedes as a potential destination for Verstappen, despite longstanding speculation linking him with the team if he leaves Red Bull.
Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, but there is a performance clause that could allow him to leave if he finishes outside the top two in the drivers’ championship by the summer break.
With Red Bull struggling at the start of the season and Verstappen dissatisfied with the new regulations, the prospect of him leaving the team is growing, especially given his comments about finding Formula 1 boring and the current cars being flawed.
After a disappointing finish at the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen openly contemplated the idea of retiring from Formula 1 to spend more time with his family and friends if he no longer enjoys the sport.
