Verstappen's McLaren Move Tipped as Mercedes Snubbed in Shock Switch Scenario

Max Verstappen could follow his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to McLaren in a sensational driver switch as soon as next year, according to former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher. Notably absent from Schumacher's assessment was any mention of Mercedes, long considered the favorite destination for the Dutch champion if he were to leave Red Bull, where his contract runs until 2028 but contains a performance-based exit clause.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's future is the biggest storyline in Formula 1, and a potential move—especially to a rival like McLaren instead of Mercedes—would trigger a seismic shift in the driver market and competitive order. With Red Bull struggling and Verstappen openly critical of the sport's direction, the conditions for a historic switch are aligning, putting immense pressure on the reigning champions to stabilize their project.

The details:

• Ralf Schumacher outlined two scenarios for Verstappen following the news of Lambiase's move to McLaren: quitting F1 altogether or joining McLaren alongside his engineer.
• Schumacher explicitly snubbed Mercedes as a potential destination in his analysis, despite it being the long-rumored frontrunner for Verstappen's signature.
• A move to McLaren could involve a direct swap with Oscar Piastri, sending the Australian to Red Bull in return.
• Verstappen's contract contains a performance clause allowing him to leave if he is outside the top two in the championship by the summer break—a real possibility as he currently sits ninth.
• The driver has been vocal about his dissatisfaction, calling the 2026 regulations "fundamentally flawed" and "anti-racing," and openly pondering his future after the Japanese GP.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Red Bull's performance in the coming races and any movement on Lambiase's early release.

• If Red Bull cannot climb the standings, Verstappen's exit clause becomes actionable, potentially making him a free agent for 2025.
• Schumacher believes Lambiase may not see out his Red Bull contract until 2028, accelerating the timeline for a decision.
• Verstappen's past comment that he would stop racing when Lambiase stops adds significant weight to the engineer's career move and directly ties it to the champion's own future in the sport.