If Max Verstappen walks away from Red Bull, Guenther Steiner believes only three destinations make sense \u2014 but whether any team is willing to sacrifice a current driver is another matter.<\/p>\n
The former Haas team principal says the three options are Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes.<\/p>\n
Guenther Steiner says Max Verstappen has three F1 options beyond Red Bull<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Back in 2022, just months after winning his debut world title with Red Bull, Verstappen signed the longest single driver contract ever in Formula 1.<\/p>\n He agreed a bumper five-year deal with the Milton Keynes squad, committing his future to Red Bull through to the end of 2028 despite still having two seasons remaining on his previous deal.<\/p>\n That, though, has done little to silence rumours that he is considering his options. <\/p>\n Those rumours began in 2024 when Toto Wolff publicly courted the driver as Mercedes sought a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, who was off to Ferrari. That not only coincided with then-Red Bull team boss Christian Horner\u2019s off-track controversy, but also Red Bull\u2019s grip on P1 had also weakened.<\/p>\n Although Verstappen still managed to win that year\u2019s world title, his fourth on the trot, McLaren came to the fore in the Constructors\u2019 Championship and a year later ended the Dutchman\u2019s reign as the Woking team secured the double with Lando Norris P1 in the Drivers\u2019 standings.<\/p>\n Verstappen remained committed to Red Bull, telling Sky Deutschland last October: \u201cThe Red Bull family is truly fantastic. I\u2019ve also said many times that I want to drive here for my entire career. That opportunity is still there.\u201d<\/p>\n However, the rumours persist.<\/p>\n The 28-year-old is being linked to Mercedes, McLaren and even Ferrari. Former F1 driver David Coulthard claims the latter would be the \u201cbetter fit\u201d<\/a>, as all Verstappen would have to do is show up, win races, and \u201cthen head home\u201d to his family.<\/p>\n More on Formula 1 2027<\/p>\n F1 2027 driver line-up: Which drivers are already confirmed for the 2027 grid?<\/a><\/p>\n F1 2027 calendar takes shape with Turkish GP return confirmation<\/a><\/p>\n But according to former F1 team boss Steiner, the big question isn\u2019t which of the three teams Verstappen would like to join, it\u2019s which of the three \u2013 if any \u2013 would drop one of its existing drivers to make room for him.<\/p>\n \u201cIn my opinion, Max can only go to three teams: Ferrari, McLaren, or Mercedes,\u201d the Italian told a betting website.<\/p>\n \u201cBut is there anything available at the moment? Maybe not, but would they make something available for Max Verstappen? That is the big question. <\/p>\n \u201cWho is prepared to sacrifice what they\u2019ve got now for Max, because Max is, in my opinion, the champ. He\u2019s the GOAT. He\u2019s not the world champion, obviously, that is Lando, but he is a four-time world champion.\u201d<\/p>\n Steiner is convinced that Verstappen\u2019s success in Formula 1, which includes four world titles, 71 grand prix wins, and 127 podiums, will sway some teams to drop a driver to make room for him \u2013 even if the driver is doing well.<\/p>\n \u201cSome teams will think about it,\u201d he continued. \u201cJust look back at when Ferrari let Carlos [Sainz] go, who was doing a good job, because the GOAT Lewis Hamilton came around. <\/p>\n \u201cSo, I think something like this needs to happen, but that is the thing Max will be looking for. And I\u2019m pretty sure we don\u2019t have to tell him to do that. <\/p>\n \u201cHe will be looking and speaking with these three teams, but I don\u2019t think there is one which is focused on him. He will sound all three of them out and see where he has got the best opportunity to win a fifth world championship.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite Steiner\u2019s claim, already McLaren and Mercedes have ruled out signing Verstappen for next year\u2019s championship.<\/p>\n McLaren CEO Zak Brown says he \u201ccouldn\u2019t be happier with what we have and have no intention of changing anything about it\u201d, while Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has insisted that there are \u201cnot any Max discussions\u201d<\/a> as he too \u201ccould not be happier with the two drivers that we have\u201d.<\/p>\n That leaves only Ferrari on the table. However, the Scuderia\u2019s seats are \u2013 if Hamilton exercises his option<\/a> \u2013 taken for next season.<\/p>\n Charles Leclerc has a multi-year deal that includes F1 2027, while Hamilton reportedly has an option for a third season in red, one that only he can activate.<\/p>\n Verstappen therefore only has two options for next year, remain with Red Bull or quit Formula 1.<\/p>\n He\u2019s giving serious consideration to the latter.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m saying,\u201d he told BBC Radio 5 Live. \u201cI\u2019m thinking about everything inside this paddock.<\/p>\n \u201cPrivately I\u2019m very happy. You also wait for 24 races. This time it\u2019s 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you\u2019re not enjoying your sport?\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI want to be here to have fun and have a great time and enjoy myself. At the moment that\u2019s not really the case.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I do enjoy certain aspects. I enjoy working with my team. It\u2019s like a second family. But once I sit in the car it\u2019s not the most enjoyable unfortunately.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m trying. I keep telling myself every day to try and enjoy it. It\u2019s just very hard.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n