Max Verstappen – Red Bull exit rumors grow as Palmer suggests Leclerc and Piastri. Speculation grows over Max Verstappen’s Red Bull future.

Red Bull, Verstappen heading for exit? Former driver names two ideal replacements

Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull remains an open question, with several uncertainties still to be resolved. With Gianpiero Lambiase reportedly set to join McLaren in the future, the stability around the four-time world champion in Milton Keynes appears less secure than ever, increasing speculation about a possible departure.

If Verstappen were to leave the team, Laurent Mekies would face the difficult task of finding a driver capable of matching Red Bull’s ambitions: an experienced leader and a clear performance benchmark for the team.

Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Jolyon Palmer admitted that Charles Leclerc would be his ideal candidate: “If money was no object, I would choose Leclerc. He has been at Ferrari for a long time. I think he has extraordinary talent. And he has proven it,” he said. “If Ferrari is not able to show this year that they can win the title, which they still might, I think he could be tempted by an offer. Would he be tempted to go to Red Bull? We are talking purely hypothetically, but I still believe he has the ability to win the title and that he could be tempted.”

McLaren driver also in the frame?

Palmer’s co-host James Hinchcliffe also pointed out that, alongside Leclerc, Oscar Piastri would be another strong candidate for Verstappen’s seat: “Well, that was my first thought as well, but I have a second one, and that is Oscar Piastri. While I don’t fully buy into the idea that McLaren is Lando’s team in the same way, I do think Oscar might look for motivation elsewhere, perhaps in a team where he would become the central figure of the project.”

“Maybe he likes the idea of being part of a team that supports both drivers equally, or maybe he starts to feel different needs, and at Milton Keynes he would certainly become the number one at Red Bull. That could be an interesting situation,” he concluded.

Verstappen, Leclerc, and Piastri were also key figures during the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix press conference discussion. Clearly, these remain only hypothetical scenarios: time will tell whether Verstappen is truly ready to leave Milton Keynes.