McLaren emerges as shock alternative for Max Verstappen amid Red Bull turmoil. Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull is increasingly uncertain.

A champion on the edge and a struggling Red Bull

Max Verstappen is at the center of the biggest driver market earthquake in recent years. Between technical dissatisfaction, disappointing results, and the shocking departure of his trusted engineer, his future at Red Bull is no longer a certainty. While Formula 1 watches closely, McLaren sees a potential opening that nobody would have expected.

The four-time world champion is going through a season he no longer recognizes. The new regulations have frustrated him, the RB22 is not competitive, and the power unit is far from Mercedes standards.

The result is growing discomfort, so much so that Verstappen “has left open the possibility of a sensational exit from F1 at the end of the season.”

The real twist came yesterday:

Gianpiero Lambiase, race engineer and key figure in Verstappen’s career, will leave Red Bull at the end of his contract to join McLaren in 2028. A move that has shaken the paddock and could heavily influence the driver’s decisions.

Verstappen also has a clause that would allow him to leave Red Bull if he is not in the top two in the standings by the summer break. With a 51-point gap to the Antonelli–Russell duo and a dominant Mercedes, the scenario is far from unrealistic.

The McLaren temptation: 2027, 2028 or… Le Mans in between

If McLaren wanted to attempt the deal of the century, this would be the moment. However, there is an obstacle: Lando Norris is under contract until 2027, while Oscar Piastri is secured until 2028. To make room for Verstappen, a ruthless decision would be required, similar to what happened with Ricciardo.

There is, however, a more creative and potentially perfect alternative for everyone involved.

Zak Brown could offer Verstappen a seat in McLaren’s Hypercar program for 2027. A sabbatical year away from F1 while the regulations are reset, with the opportunity to race in the WEC and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans—a long-expressed dream of the driver, who will already debut in a 24-hour race next month at the Nürburgring.

Then in 2028, Verstappen could return to Formula 1 with McLaren, reuniting with Lambiase. A path that closely resembles the one taken by Fernando Alonso, who left F1 in 2018 to pursue other motorsport challenges before returning.

Mercedes dominates, McLaren observes

For years, the discussion has revolved around a potential Verstappen move to Mercedes, but today the scenario has changed: it is McLaren that holds the most intriguing cards. And if Brown decides to play them, the driver market could experience the biggest shock of the modern era.