Max Verstappen’s switch to a new F1 team is now uncertain after someone said he’s ‘too smart’ for it.
There’s been a lot of buzz about where Max Verstappen might be racing in the 2027 Formula 1 season, mainly because of a rumored release clause in his Red Bull contract. This season has been tough for Max, as he’s often voiced frustration about his Red Bull car. Right now, he’s in seventh place in the drivers’ standings with just two podium finishes in 2026.
At 28, Max has several ways to leave Red Bull early, even though his contract runs until the end of 2028. With things getting cold between him and the team, one of those release options just became active. After a disappointing DNF at the British Grand Prix, where he was on track for a podium, it’s clear he won’t be starting the summer break in the top two positions.
This has led to a lot of talk about him possibly moving to another top team. Even though all the big teams currently have full lineups, rumors suggest he could surprise everyone by joining Mercedes, McLaren, or Ferrari. One idea getting a lot of attention is a big swap deal with McLaren, switching seats with Oscar Piastri.
It’s said Max has talked to McLaren, but Mercedes seem happy sticking with George Russell and championship leader Kimi Antonelli for now. Guenther Steiner, former Haas team boss, thinks Mercedes won’t risk changing things up. On the Red Flags podcast, he said that while Max might want to leave Red Bull, the other teams don’t have the money or the perfect car he’s looking for. Steiner explained that Mercedes wouldn’t move to sign Max unless George left, as Max would cost more and could upset team harmony. He believes Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is smart enough not to take on that risk.
The season continues with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa next weekend, followed by the Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break. After nine races, young Italian driver Kimi Antonelli leads with 179 points but hasn’t scored in two of the last three races. George Russell is 25 points behind, and Lewis Hamilton is just seven points further back, benefiting from Ferrari’s recent upgrades. Hamilton won his first race with Ferrari in Barcelona and came third at Silverstone behind Leclerc and Russell.
Max Verstappen, meanwhile, has 79 points and trails behind Leclerc, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri as the season heats up.