Verstappen Expected to Stay at Red Bull as McLaren, Mercedes Doors Close

Sky Sports reporter Ted Kravitz believes Max Verstappen will remain with Red Bull Racing for the foreseeable future, concluding the four-time world champion has exhausted his logical escape routes for 2027. With McLaren fully committed to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Mercedes placing its faith in George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, the driver market offers Verstappen no clear path to a competitive alternative.

Why it matters:

• Verstappen's future has loomed over the driver market as the single move capable of reshaping the competitive order across the entire grid.
• Red Bull's recent dip in performance has intensified speculation about his patience wearing thin, yet the absence of an open seat at a front-running team leaves him with little leverage to force an exit.
• The situation underscores how quickly the market has shifted, with rival teams now prioritizing stability and long-term projects over the disruption of signing F1's most dominant driver.

The details:

• Kravitz identified McLaren as the only realistic destination for Verstappen, but stressed the Woking team is "very happy" with its current pairing. Norris was arguably the quickest driver at Spa, and Piastri remains locked into a harmonious, productive environment despite his own setbacks.
• Mercedes is equally unavailable. According to Kravitz, the Brackley outfit believes Antonelli is "probably as fast as Verstappen" and considers Russell the perfect benchmark for the young Italian.
• Verstappen continues to stonewall questions about his future. Ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, he shut down media inquiries and insisted he would speak only when he had concrete news to share.
• The Dutchman already locked in his 2026 seat with Red Bull last season at the Hungaroring, and Kravitz expects he could delay any final 2027 decision until October.

What's next:

• Formula 1 returns to the Hungaroring this weekend, the very track where Verstappen confirmed his short-term Red Bull future a year ago. While a repeat announcement feels unlikely, the speculation will follow him into the summer break.
• Barring a sudden change at McLaren or Mercedes, the momentum points toward Verstappen staying put by default, a scenario that would keep F1's biggest star in Red Bull colors and leave the driver market largely frozen.