Max Verstappen: Red Bull driver's options for 2027 switch assessed after 'frustrating' British GP weekend
On the latest episode of The F1 Show, Sky Sports F1's Simon Lazenby, Jenson Button and Anthony Davidson discuss the latest on Max Verstappen's future; watch every session of the Belgian Grand Prix from Spa-Francorchamps live on Sky Sports F1 on July 17-19
Wednesday 8 July 2026 14:23, UK
An extremely frustrating British Grand Prix weekend for Max Verstappen has done little to calm speculation around the four-time world champion making a potential exit from Red Bull at the end of the season.
The build-up to Silverstone was dominated by questions around a June meeting between McLaren and Verstappen's representatives, with the Dutchman himself, McLaren's current drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and McLaren chief executive Zak Brown all quizzed.
There was nothing overly significant to be gleaned from their answers, but the most notable incidents, in terms of Verstappen's future, were to come later in the weekend.
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After dropping back from third on the grid to finish sixth in Saturday's Sprint, Verstappen qualified only seventh in full qualifying later that day, finishing two places behind his team-mate Isack Hadjar.
He said on Saturday night that there was "no point in competing" in the race if Red Bull couldn't solve a top-speed issue that he felt had caused his rare deficit to his team-mate.
Then, in his brief post-race interviews, he appeared to criticise his team for rejecting his wish to make changes to the car that would have resulted in him having to start from the pit lane at the back of the field.
Despite not having great race pace, Verstappen was set to salvage a podium - largely thanks to the misfortune of others - before he crashed in the closing stages, with the incident caused by a rear wing defect - similar to the one that had made him crash in Austrian Grand Prix qualifying the previous weekend.
This time Verstappen said he was "fed up" with the "dangerous" nature of his car, while the team offered a public apology to their star driver.
The result officially confirmed that Verstappen, who is seventh in the world championship, will not be in the top two when the summer break starts after races in Belgium and Hungary, which means a clause in his contract will be triggered that allows him to move to another team in 2027.
The combination of that technicality and Verstappen appearing to be unhappy with his team means noise over his future is only going to get louder in the build-up across the upcoming double header.
Button: Verstappen must be ruthless and selfish
Speaking on the latest episode of Sky Sports' The F1 Show, former world champion Jenson Button said that Verstappen must be "ruthless" and "selfish" in his decision.
"I think that Max at Red Bull sounds really frustrated at the moment," Button said.
"He puts a happy face on a lot of the time, but I think he's very frustrated with the situation. A lot of people that he's worked with for many years and won championships with have left and gone elsewhere.
"It must be very strange, it must feel kind of a bit lonely in that team for him, everyone's brand new around him, so I think he'll be looking elsewhere, I really do, for next year."
Verstappen had been heavily linked with a move to Mercedes over the last couple of years as Silver Arrows chief Toto Wolff publicly courted him at times, but world championship leader Kimi Antonelli's stunning start to 2026 seems to have cooled their interest.
While Antonelli's team-mate, George Russell has struggled for form in recent weeks, both the Brit and Wolff have said his seat is secure for next year.
Button continued: "If I was his management, the team I'd want to put him in is in Mercedes, obviously, alongside Kimi or alongside George, whichever one they choose to move on.
"You've got to be ruthless, you've got to be selfish, in his position because he's a lot further into his career."
Davidson: Antonelli-Verstappen pairing could work
Sky Sports F1's Anthony Davidson believes the good relationship Verstappen has with Mercedes' Antonelli and Mclaren's Norris could make pairings with either of them workable.
"I think it could work, Kimi and Max, there's a respect there, there's a bit of a friendship there as well," Davidson said on The F1 Show. "I think Max probably sees a lot of himself in young Kimi when Max first arrived [in F1].
"And, also, he's pals with Lando, who at Silverstone was pretty adamant that he's still going to be there at McLaren and he would relish the chance of having Verstappen as a team-mate.
"For these guys who feel like they're right at the top of their game - Lando Norris, world champion - 'yeah, bring it on! Let's see what the so-called best in the business is like alongside me!'
"You have to put yourself against the best. For these guys it's a 'bring it on' moment."
Davidson also questioned whether "disharmony" at Red Bull is playing a role in Verstappen's apparent temptation to depart the team.
While many believe Christian Horner's sacking as Red Bull team principal last July was made to appease Verstappen's camp, Davidson believes the departure of long-time motorsport advisor Helmut Marko at the end of 2025 could be a source of discontent.
He added: "I still wonder if Max is still niggled by the fact that Red Bull, as a collective, got rid of the person that gave Max his chance - Helmut Marko.
"I sense there's upset there still in the team. Team Verstappen and Team Red Bull, there's disharmony and I can't work out why."
Brundle on 'problem' Verstappen is facing
Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle has questioned whether, despite currently being widely regarded as the best driver on the grid, Verstappen is actually lacking options away from Red Bull.
Like Mercedes and McLaren, Ferrari have both drivers - Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc - contracted until at least the end of the 2027 season.
Speaking during Sky Sports F1's Silverstone coverage, Brundle said: "I think if he could go, he will go at some point, whether it's 2027 or 2028, and do something fresh for him.
"We see drivers do that. We saw Lewis Hamilton do that, for example, and get a reset and a new challenge at Ferrari after a very long time at Mercedes.
"Max put some faith in the new Red Bull power unit, and it's proved to be a very good decision.
"The problem Max has got is that there are only three teams he can look at - Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes - and they all seem very, very locked into their current driver line-ups for at least 2027, and quite often, way beyond."
Formula 1's summer run continues with the Belgian Grand Prix at legendary Spa-Francorchamps on July 17-19, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
