Max Verstappen’s late-race retirement at the British Grand Prix has once again fuelled speculation over his long-term future with Red Bull. The Dutch driver was left furious with the team following the incident, and attention has once again turned to the performance-related exit clause in his contract, which runs until the end of the 2028 Formula 1 season.
If Verstappen were to activate that clause, the driver market could be turned upside down ahead of the 2027 campaign. One theory that has recently emerged even suggests a sensational swap involving Oscar Piastri, with both drivers reportedly unhappy with different aspects of their current situations. While such a scenario remains highly speculative, it has inevitably led to discussions about who could eventually replace Verstappen at Red Bull.
Ralf Schumacher backs Oliver Bearman
Although Oscar Piastri’s manager, Mark Webber, has dismissed the rumours linking the Australian to a move away from McLaren, fresh reports from Sky UK suggest Red Bull is also evaluating another option for the future.
According to the report, the Milton Keynes-based team is seriously considering Oliver Bearman as a potential successor to Max Verstappen. The 21-year-old British driver, who currently races for Haas, has long been regarded as one of Ferrari’s brightest young prospects after progressing through the Scuderia’s Driver Academy.
While Red Bull’s future driver plans remain uncertain, former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher made it clear who he would choose if Verstappen were to leave.
Speaking to Sky Deutschland, the younger Schumacher brother expressed his admiration for Bearman’s talent: “If it were possible to sign him, my first choice would probably be Oliver Bearman, if it weren’t for the experience factor,” he explained. “If I were concerned and couldn’t rely on Hadjar—because the team has much more information when analysing the data than I can possibly have from the outside—I would say you can trust Bearman.”
Carlos Sainz also enters the conversation
Another driver frequently linked with a possible move for 2027 is Carlos Sainz, who is reportedly eager to return to a front-running Formula 1 team after his move to Williams.
However, despite Carlos Sainz’s experience and his successful spell at Ferrari, Ralf Schumacher still believes Oliver Bearman represents the stronger long-term investment: “Then, of course, there’s Carlos Sainz, who is a good driver,” Schumacher continued. “The only issue so far is that he still has to prove he can truly fight for a World Championship. I’ll say that straight away before people start commenting, because I had to prove exactly the same thing during my own career.”
“Carlos has done a very good job, and that’s exactly why I would still choose Bearman. I believe he has enormous potential for the future. He’s incredibly composed, incredibly likeable and, in my opinion, deserves the opportunity to drive a truly competitive car.”
Schumacher questions Ferrari’s long-term plans
Ralf Schumacher also admitted that he struggles to understand why Ferrari would ever consider allowing Oliver Bearman to leave permanently, given the British driver’s potential: “I simply can’t understand why Ferrari would let him go. It’s beyond my understanding how that could happen,” Schumacher said.
“Even if Lewis Hamilton stays for another year, everyone knows that at some point his career will come to an end. So why would Ferrari allow a jewel like Bearman to slip away?”
For now, Max Verstappen remains under contract with Red Bull, and there is no indication that an immediate departure is imminent. Nevertheless, with speculation continuing to surround the reigning world champion’s future, discussions over possible replacements are becoming increasingly frequent. If Ralf Schumacher had the final say, there would be no hesitation—Oliver Bearman would be at the very top of Red Bull’s shortlist.
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