Verstappen Eyes 2028 F1 Move as 7th-Place 2026 Season Limits 2027 Options

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 13

2028 has emerged as Max Verstappen’s most realistic decision point for a team switch, with the four-time champion winless and only seventh in the 2026 standings despite a Red Bull contract running through 2028.
That timing reflects a thin 2027 market: McLaren held talks with Verstappen’s camp but says Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are locked in, while Mercedes and Ferrari also look settled for next season.
Red Bull’s dip has kept speculation alive after rear-wing failures in Austria and Britain, and Verstappen has said the new power-unit-heavy cars feel “anti-racing,” even as 2027 rule tweaks may ease that concern.
A 2028 move would also give Verstappen clearer evidence of the competitive order and another year for rival teams’ multi-year contracts to loosen, while Red Bull gets time to recover its form.
For now, Verstappen’s leverage remains strong: an exit clause could be triggered by his current position, and his camp has made clear he does not intend to spend his prime fighting in the midfield.