Still uncertain for 2027, Max Verstappen has few options truly better than Red Bull according to Günther Steiner.
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Max Verstappen’s future continues to fuel speculation. Although the four-time world champion is under contract with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season, certain clauses would allow him to leave the Austrian team as early as the end of this year.
Mercedes and McLaren have regularly been cited as potential destinations. But as the season progresses, the possibilities seem to be narrowing for the Dutchman.
Former Haas team principal Günther Steiner believes that one question should guide Verstappen’s thinking: is there currently a team offering him better prospects than Red Bull?
McLaren, an option that has become more attractive
McLaren’s situation has evolved considerably over the past few weeks. Struggling at the start of the new regulatory era, the British team has gradually closed the gap on Mercedes and Ferrari.
Its significant package of upgrades introduced in Hungary notably allowed Lando Norris to win, while Oscar Piastri was also in the fight for victory before his retirement.
These improvements have slightly changed Steiner’s view on the possibility of Verstappen transferring to Woking.
“He has many possibilities. The problem for Max right now is that if you had asked me before the last race in Hungary, I would have said that going to McLaren would have been a change without real progress,” Steiner explains.
“After Hungary, that may no longer be the case. Things are changing, let’s put it that way.”
However, a potential transfer to McLaren would be difficult to realize since both Norris and Piastri have long-term contracts.
Few teams can offer better than Red Bull
For Steiner, Verstappen would only have a real reason to leave if he could join a team offering better sporting guarantees.
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“If Max goes somewhere, he obviously wants to go to a team better than Red Bull. And there aren’t many teams currently that are better than Red Bull.”
The Milton Keynes team is certainly going through a difficult period. The RB22 remains behind the best cars and Red Bull is the only team among the top four not to have won a Grand Prix this season.
Verstappen has also regularly expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance and reliability of his car.
But Steiner reminds that Red Bull remains one of the main forces in Formula 1.
“Maybe Red Bull is not currently where the team would like to be, at the front as it was a few years ago. But it remains one of the big four teams.”
Ferrari and Mercedes hardly accessible
The other possibilities seem even more limited. Ferrari already has Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc under contract for 2027, which practically closes the door to Verstappen’s arrival.
Mercedes has long been presented as his most credible destination in case of departure from Red Bull. But the situation has profoundly changed with the explosion of Kimi Antonelli.
The Italian currently dominates the championship with six wins and a 50-point lead over Hamilton. George Russell is also expected to stay at Mercedes, considerably reducing Toto Wolff’s need to disrupt his duo.
Steiner sums up the situation with a particularly revealing phrase.
“At Ferrari, the seats are taken. And at Mercedes, I think they have now found the next Max Verstappen. So maybe they don’t need the real Max Verstappen for the moment.”
In the absence of a clearly superior destination, staying at Red Bull could therefore ultimately represent the most logical solution for Verstappen in 2027. The evolution of the main teams’ performances during the second half of the season could nevertheless still change the equation.
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