Could the Formula 1 world be on the verge of another seismic driver move? According to a leading F1 expert, Max Verstappen might just make a sensational switch to McLaren in 2026 if the intense battle for the 2025 Drivers’ Championship between current McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri turns sour.
Speaking on the Total Motorsport F1 Show, F1 journalists Ewan Gale and Brandon Sutton dissected the Dutchman’s future in the wake of Red Bull’s underwhelming performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Despite maximizing the RB21’s potential, the four-time world champion could only manage sixth place, losing ground to both McLaren drivers in the early championship standings.
Adding fuel to the speculative fire, Verstappen himself has dropped several hints suggesting his long-term future might lie outside the Red Bull camp. While Aston Martin’s well-documented interest, coupled with their capacity to offer a substantial salary, presents a concrete alternative, Ewan Gale believes a Verstappen-to-McLaren scenario, albeit unconventional, shouldn’t be dismissed.
“Aston Martin will have an entirely unique car next season and that is a draw point, it’s essentially a works outfit. That’ll be the draw for Verstappen,” Gale explained after the Bahrain GP. “Whether he looks down the table and says ‘I don’t fancy it’, or whether Adrian [Newey] is in his ear a bit like Ross Brawn was with Lewis [Hamilton] before 2014, that could entice him across.”
However, Gale then threw the cat amongst the pigeons: “The only other place I could see Max going is McLaren. We know Zak Brown isn’t against a deal, let’s put it that way. Hypothetically, if it is a Norris and Piastri showdown this season and all hell breaks loose, will one of them be open to a swap? Potentially. That’s very outside-the-box thinking, but I don’t think it is Aston Martin or bust for Verstappen. Other pathways could arrive, and it is F1 after all.”
Red Bull’s Development Dilemma and the Allure of Newey at Aston Martin:
Brandon Sutton chimed in, suggesting that Red Bull might be forced to drastically alter their development strategy for the current season in a desperate bid to convince Verstappen to resist the overtures from rival teams. However, the potent combination of a reunion with legendary designer Adrian Newey at Aston Martin could prove too tempting for the Dutchman.
“Whatever’s going on with that car, there’s a lot of very smart people within Red Bull and they can’t get a grip on it,” Sutton observed regarding Red Bull’s current struggles. “Verstappen’s known for his incredible feel of the car and even he doesn’t know, he’s lost for ideas on what to do with it. It’s tricky.”
Sutton elaborated on the precarious situation for Red Bull: “If Verstappen wasn’t kind of dropping hints that he could leave, I think Red Bull would be going all in on 2026. But they’re kind of compromised now where they have to commit to fixing it this year, otherwise Verstappen might have a billion reasons to join Aston Martin.”
He further highlighted the compelling factors for Verstappen at Aston Martin: “There has to be things they can offer Verstappen, which includes a boatload of money to keep him happy. Then they’ve got the Honda power unit from 2026 and Adrian Newey. These are all things Verstappen knows all about and has a good understanding of. So, if Red Bull have lost millions and they’re about to go off in a different direction on the power unit, Verstappen might not like that uncertainty.”
While Aston Martin’s current performance in 2025 might not be stellar, Sutton believes their trajectory is set to change dramatically with Newey fully integrated into their design process. “Aston Martin aren’t doing well this year, but you’d tip them to start heading in the right direction as soon as Newey gets the chance to work on his blueprint. There’s a lot of trust Verstappen could put into Aston Martin that he might not be able to put in Red Bull or someone else.”
Adding Context: The Verstappen-McLaren Connection and Potential Internal Friction:
The idea of Max Verstappen joining McLaren, while seemingly audacious, isn’t entirely without precedent or logic:
- Zak Brown’s Ambition: McLaren CEO Zak Brown has consistently demonstrated a willingness to make bold moves to elevate the team’s performance. Signing a driver of Verstappen’s caliber would be a monumental statement of intent.
- McLaren’s Ascending Performance: McLaren has shown significant progress in recent seasons, with both Norris and Piastri consistently challenging at the front. Their current competitiveness makes them a more attractive proposition than they might have been in the past.
- Potential Internal Rivalry: The scenario hinges on a significant escalation of the rivalry between Norris and Piastri. While currently a strong and seemingly harmonious pairing, intense championship battles can often strain team dynamics. If a situation arises where one driver feels unfairly treated or if their competition becomes detrimental to the team’s overall goals, a radical solution like a driver swap, though unlikely, becomes a theoretical possibility.
- Verstappen’s Openness: Verstappen’s recent comments suggest a degree of unease or uncertainty about Red Bull’s future direction, making him potentially more receptive to exploring other options if a compelling opportunity arises.
While the prospect of V
erstappen in papaya orange remains firmly in the realm of speculation, the comments from F1 experts highlight the undercurrent of uncertainty surrounding Verstappen’s Red Bull future and the intriguing possibilities that could unfold in the high-stakes world of Formula 1. The 2025 season promises not only a thrilling championship battle on track but also a potentially explosive driver market for 2026.