Red Bull have four Max Verstappen replacement options if he turns down new contract | F1 | Sport
It comes amid rumours that Verstappen’s current deal includes an exit clause that would allow him to leave for elsewhere before the 2028 expiration date. If that proves to be the case, Express Sport have picked out four names Red Bull could look to replace Verstappen with…
Verstappen’s replacement could in fact be decided by where the four-time world champion decides to go. He has flirted with the idea of leaving Formula One altogether, but assuming that wasn’t the case, McLaren have been mooted as the most likely destination. With Lando Norris likely to remain in one of the McLaren seats, Oscar Piastri appears the most obvious candidate to leave, and Red Bull would be daft not to snatch him up, should the Aussie become available.
It’s been a bit of a dismal season for George Russell, who has firmly found himself in the shadow of Kimi Antonelli. The teenager is dominating the Formula One circuit this season and looks set to take the World Championship crown. At just 19, he’s unlikely to slow down anytime soon, which could present a problem for Russell, who has championship ambitions of his own. If a seat becomes free at Red Bull, it could provide the Englishman with the chance to get his career back on track.
Or maybe Red Bull would choose to go down a different route altogether, one that includes taking a young prodigy and developing them into a world-class driver. Arvid Lindblad certainly fits the bill for that, and given he’s already contracted to Racing Bulls, it shouldn’t be a difficult sell for the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Oliver Bearman is another young talent who fits that description, with the Brit having shown some promising signs behind the wheel. Granted, this would be the biggest risk out of the names mentioned, given Bearman’s lack of experience. But sometimes it’s worth investing in the future, and with the right environment and team around him, Bearman could be the perfect man to replace Verstappen.
