Although he acknowledges that a Verstappen-Piastri swap is a realistic possibility, former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes Red Bull currently remains a more competitive team than McLaren.
Close to leaving Red Bull
Max Verstappen’s trip into the gravel at Stowe during the British Grand Prix left the Dutchman furious, to the point where the four-time world champion now appears closer than ever to bringing his long-standing relationship with Red Bull to an end. From his unmistakably frustrated team radio after retiring from the race to the widely discussed images of Jos Verstappen, manager Raymond Vermeulen and team principal Laurent Mekies holding a post-race debrief, Verstappen has once again become one of the hottest topics on the Formula 1 driver market.
Verstappen-Piastri swap?
The Dutch driver could seriously consider activating the exit clause in his contract, allowing him to walk away from his Red Bull deal before its scheduled expiration in 2028. Interestingly, Oscar Piastri is believed to have a similar contractual clause at McLaren, one that could also become relevant as the summer break approaches. With both drivers reportedly experiencing periods of tension within their respective teams, speculation has grown around the possibility of a sensational direct swap between the two.
Verstappen to McLaren: the only realistic option, but…
Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes such a move is entirely feasible and, in fact, considers McLaren to be the only genuine alternative for Verstappen if he decides to leave Red Bull. However, the Colombian also believes the Dutchman must carefully weigh one important factor.
“People are talking about a straight swap between Piastri and McLaren,” he commented. “Aston Martin has also been mentioned. But if you were Max, would you really take that risk? If you already have a car capable of fighting for podiums and it’s the second or third fastest on the grid, why would you move to a team whose car might not even be able to finish in the top ten? Realistically, the only true opportunity for him to try something different is McLaren.
“But right now, you have to admit that Red Bull is better than McLaren. And would he really go to McLaren with Lando as his teammate? It wouldn’t be about speed. Max is incredibly fast, but in many ways McLaren has been built around Norris. There isn’t a seat available at Ferrari, nor realistically at Mercedes. Red Bull is an environment he knows, where everything has been built around him. He’s simply frustrated because things aren’t working. When you’re driving and the wing doesn’t close properly and you end up off the track, you can understand his level of frustration. What’s really interesting is comparing how Max and Kimi react when things go wrong. Antonelli lost far more than Max at Silverstone, yet he handled it with complete calm. Max, on the other hand, did not.”
Why Montoya believes Verstappen should stay at Red Bull
According to Montoya, Red Bull is currently a stronger package than McLaren, which is why he would not leave Milton Keynes for Woking if he were in Verstappen’s position.
“Jos Verstappen would ask Mekies: ‘What are you going to do? This situation is unacceptable. You have to do better. If you want us to stay here, we can’t accept this.’ I believe Max would be better off staying where he is, and the options available to him are gradually running out. Red Bull has made incredible progress this season. They built an overweight car, and now it appears they’ve solved that problem.
“Look at Williams. Their car was overweight too, and it still is. That shows just how quickly Red Bull can respond and adapt to difficult situations. What they’re doing is a valuable lesson for a team like Williams in terms of the pace at which development needs to happen. I think Williams is doing a very good job and moving in the right direction. But if you want to compete with Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari, you need to be able to react much faster.”
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