Max Verstappen’s future continues to fuel speculation. Gerhard Berger believes that three teams are options for 2027.
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Under contract with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season, Max Verstappen has still not officially confirmed that he will defend the Austrian team’s colors in 2027. A situation that continues to fuel rumors about his future.
The contract of the four-time world champion would include several performance clauses that could allow him to leave Red Bull before its term. And the difficulties faced by his team since the start of the season only increase the questions.
Red Bull is currently the only one of the top four teams to not have won a single Grand Prix in 2026. Verstappen has repeatedly been critical of the performance and problems of his car.
For Gerhard Berger, several possibilities are therefore open to the Dutchman for next season.
Red Bull, Mercedes or McLaren?
The former Formula 1 driver believes that staying at Red Bull remains an obvious option, but he also says that discussions are taking place about other potential destinations.
“Right now, there are a lot of rumors and a lot of discussions,” explains Berger. “Obviously, Max has to determine if there is a possibility for him to continue winning the world championship as early as next year.”
For the Austrian, three teams thus appear at the center of speculation.
“That always leads to discussions. There is McLaren, there is Mercedes, and there is Red Bull. It’s something typical of this time of year.”
Mercedes has been regularly linked to Verstappen for several seasons, Toto Wolff never hiding his admiration for the Dutchman. More recently, McLaren has also been mentioned as a potential destination despite the presence of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
The second half of the season could be decisive
Verstappen’s choice could largely depend on Red Bull’s ability to continue its recovery. The team has reduced some of its gap since the start of the championship, but it still suffers from a lack of performance and especially from recurring reliability problems.
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Berger therefore believes that the first races after the summer break will provide a much clearer picture of the balance of power.
“After the summer break, we will see if Red Bull has solved its reliability problems, if the teams bring some changes and who will be the reference during the second half of the season.”
The upcoming developments could therefore weigh heavily in Verstappen’s thinking. The four-time world champion is looking above all to have a car capable of allowing him to fight quickly for a new crown.
After several years of domination with Red Bull, he now has to determine if the Milton Keynes team remains his best choice to achieve this goal.
Verstappen waits to see the new balance of power
Berger especially hopes that the second part of the championship will confirm the convergence observed between several teams during the last races.
“All we want to see, and what the fans want to see, are three or four teams at a similar level and that everyone has a chance to win.”
Such a situation could nevertheless make Verstappen’s choice even more complex. Red Bull remains the team with which he has built most of his immense record, while Mercedes and McLaren could represent new opportunities if they appear better equipped for 2027.
For now, no change is confirmed. But as long as Verstappen has not confirmed his future and Red Bull has not demonstrated its ability to sustainably return to victory, the speculation around one of the most coveted seats in Formula 1 should continue.
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