Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull has been a major talking point throughout the British Grand Prix weekend – and his Friday struggles haven’t done anything to quieten the speculation.
It’s become a familiar pattern this season for Verstappen to find himself on the back foot early in the weekend. He finished 10th in FP1 and fifth in FP2, nearly five-tenths behind pace-setter Lando Norris. Concerns have grown around Red Bull’s development, with Pierre Wache and the technical team coming under increased scrutiny from Verstappen.
Rumours connecting him to Mercedes have lingered for months, with Toto Wolff open about his interest in the four-time champion.
Verstappen’s contract contains an exit clause, the details of which remain up for debate, and it’s rumoured that it could be triggered in the coming weeks. With Red Bull already 255 points behind McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship and Verstappen’s title hopes slipping away, he may be feeling more pressure than ever to consider a change.
Still, Verstappen is unlikely to jump ship straight away. There are indications he may wait until 2027 before making a move, with the new technical regulations in 2026 set to reshape the competitive landscape. In fact, he may have taken heed of a warning that Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari exposed.
Ralf Schumacher believes Hamilton’s Ferrari struggle is a warning to Verstappen about switching teams
Hamilton’s shock move to Ferrari from Mercedes at the start of the 2025 season raised plenty of eyebrows – and while his legacy remains untouchable, his early months in Maranello have been unforgiving. The 40-year-old has yet to finish on the podium and currently sits sixth in the championship standings.
Hamilton has moved from a team that was so tailored to him to a new outfit that he has to get accustomed to. As the Brit has shown, that presents a ‘huge risk’ for Verstappen if he leaves Red Bull, says Ralf Schumacher.
Speaking via Sky Germany, the former F1 driver has warned Verstappen that he will have to adapt to a new setup at Mercedes, with Red Bull having built their team around the Dutchman.
“We’re seeing it now with Lewis Hamilton, we saw it with Carlos Sainz. New team, different car, different driving style. Mercedes was developed around Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
“Of course, that could also pose a huge risk for Max, suddenly jumping into this car and giving up the advantage he has at Red Bull – the car there is completely tailored to him, everyone knows what he needs. That could be difficult for him, too.”
Ferrari could become a viable option for Verstappen beyond Mercedes
With Verstappen’s trademark grandstand at the Austrian Grand Prix reportedly failing to sell out for the first time, and McLaren dominating the headlines, there’s a sense the momentum might be shifting against him. That might be pushing him to look outside Red Bull.
While Mercedes remains his top target, Ferrari has started to emerge as a possible Plan C. Although the Scuderia is currently satisfied with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, changes could open up a seat as early as next season if Hamilton decides to step away.
Whatever Verstappen decides, the next few months could define his career – and Red Bull still has time to make their case for him to stay.
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