If you have followed any of the Formula One season this year, it is clear that Max Verstappen has been happier. While speculation plays a role, it appears that Verstappen is growing frustrated with F1 and, likely, Red Bull’s performance.
NASCAR insiders, Jordan Bianchi and Jeff Gluck of The Athletic talked about Verstappen after the end of the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday at Martinsville. On “The Teardown” podcast, the two openly pondered the question, what’s the price tag on Verstappen’s services?
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Is any of this rooted in reality? No, but it is fun to think about what it might take to get Max Verstappen to abandon F1 for NASCAR or even IndyCar.
Max Verstappen in the TV media pen during the 2026 Japanese GP previews.Photo by Jayce Illman/Getty Images
(Photo by Jayce Illman/Getty Images)
“I said this to you jokingly, but I’m not kidding,” Bianchi said. “If I’m IndyCar or even NASCAR, I’m like, ‘Oh Max is out there he’s unhappy, like, what do we gotta do to get him? Can we just write him a blank check?'”
Gluck was the one to ask the most obvious question – what is the hypothetical price tag?
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“How much do you think it would take Max Verstappen to run IndyCar?” Gluck asked.
“$100,000,000. $100,000,000. … He said he never wants to run the Indy 500, doesn’t want to do ovals, right?” Bianchi replied. “So you’re gonna have to make him a Godfather offer that he cannot say no to.”
Let’s be honest, Verstappen leaving F1 for IndyCar or NASCAR is about as close to a 0% possibility as you can get. If Verstappen did retire from F1 early, it would make much more sense for him to go GT3 racing or another form of sports car or endurance racing.
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With the nature of NASCAR and IndyCar, there is always the chance of a one-off performance. It might take $100,000,000 just to get Verstappen to run one oval race in IndyCar.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Racing section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.