Red Bull’s Max Verstappen replacement – five-man shortlist drawn up | F1 | Sport

It’s no longer just an abstract threat – there’s a very real possibility that this season might end up being Max Verstappen’s last in Formula 1. He said as much at the Japanese Grand Prix where he admitted he will be giving some serious thought to his future as he continues to get no joy out of racing the new generation of F1 cars.

Though team principal Laurent Mekies has been bullish about the situation in public, Red Bull would be wise not to assume it’s an empty threat. Verstappen is prone to speaking his mind and has nothing left to prove in F1 as a four-time world champion. He also has plenty of interests away from the sport, like GT racing which he is currently enjoying much more and also spending time with his fiancée Kelly Piquet and their young daughter Lily, born last May.

So even though they will hope Verstappen can find some joy as the season goes on, it would be prudent for Red Bull to start considering what plan B might look like. We’ve assembled some of our writers who follow F1 to name the driver who they think should be targeted as Verstappen’s potential replacement and, between us, we’ve come up with a five-man shortlist.

Daniel Moxon – Pierre Gasly

In their current state, the only way Red Bull will be able to nab a driver from one of the other top teams would be if they lose their seat to Verstappen. I’m looking at you, George Russell. But assuming Max cuts ties with F1 completely and Mercedes‘ line-up remains unchanged, then there’s no way any of the drivers from Ferrari or McLaren will jump ship for Red Bull. Which leaves one obvious, attainable and very attractive target: Pierre Gasly.

Sure, it didn’t work out too well for him last time. But in 2019 he was young, very inexperienced and given just 12 races alongside Verstappen before he was brutally dropped. But now he’s ready for a big seat, and has been for some time. Gasly returned to the junior team and showed what he can do, scoring a win and two more podiums.

Overlooked time and again for promotion, he eventually realised Christian Horner wouldn’t ever give him another shot so he left for Alpine. Two more podiums have followed since and he has been a super consistent performer, even last year when the car was rubbish. And now that he’s got a good racing machine again, Gasly has started the new season superbly with a perfect record of three top-10 finishes.

He signed a long-term deal last year but would surely love another crack at a top team to show what he can do towards the sharp end of the grid.

Jack McEachen – Oscar Piastri

Talk about a poisoned chalice. I wouldn’t envy any driver stepping into Max Verstappen’s shoes. But the direction Red Bull are headed, as an organisation, they are moving away from the headline-making-at-all-costs movement that broke up F1’s hierarchy. Instead they now want to join the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren and form a new face – one of success but without the controversy.

Enter Oscar Piastri. Just a few days ago, on his first race start, proved that he needed no time to get used to the new regulations with a smooth second-placed finish in Suzuka. No fuss, no frills, just results. That’s what Red Bull need in a post-Verstappen world. Good luck prising him out of McLaren, but the promise of a true priority driver at a team of Red Bull’s stature must be quite tempting.

Charlie Malam – Pierre Gasly

Red Bull would do well to convince a George Russell or an Oscar Piastri to join them if Max Verstappen is so fed up in their car that he’s quitting F1. Arvid Lindblad is their long-term bet, their version of Kimi Antonelli, but maybe let him have a few years at Racing Bulls first? Instead, maybe Red Bull humbly aim their sights slightly lower down the standings. There’s a driver in the midfield who, for me, has the experience and ability to scale up a level and might be the perfect interim for a minimum of a year or two while Lindblad finds top form. And he’s already raced in Red Bull colours before!

It’s Pierre Gasly. Give the Frenchman a chance to right the wrongs of 2019, this time without living in Max’s shadow and not in a car entirely built to maximise Max’s talents. With a decent Alpine underneath him, Gasly is already about to overtake his 2025 points total. When he has the machinery, he’s a very good driver. He’s been about as impressive as anybody in 2026 so far given his car is obviously inferior to the Mercedes pair.

Mark Whiley – Carlos Sainz

Red Bull should do what they should have done last year and hire Carlos Sainz. Given the struggles of every Verstappen team-mate since Daniel Ricciardo, they should have gone for a proven race-winner to replace Yuki Tsunoda. Tensions between the Verstappen and Sainz camps (specifically, the dads) ruled that out, but it looks like it won’t be an issue soon if Max carries through on his threat to quit the sport.

Sainz would presumably jump at the chance to rejoin the Red Bull stable following a woeful start to the season for Williams. After all the big talk about focusing on this year, the Grove outside have been the second-biggest letdown of the season so far after Aston Martin.

Amos Murphy – Kimi Antonelli

If Red Bull lose Max, they should be doing everything they can to pry Kimi Antonelli away from Mercedes. Unless the teenager’s sensational early-season form continues into the summer and beyond, he’s likely to remain behind George Russell as the lead driver. Why not give him the keys, quite literally, and make him the next Red Bull poster boy?

Scott Trotter – Arvid Lindblad

It may seem premature, but promoting Arvid Lindblad might be the move when the time comes. It would see Red Bull continue with their in-house development and possibly lock in an extreme talent for the long haul once again, as they’ve been successful in doing with some of the very best drivers.

Lindblad is just 18 and will be sure to make mistakes, but it may be worth the risk. The only concern will be having two youthful drivers, and Isack Hadjar isn’t frightened to make an outburst, so maybe an experienced head is needed?

Nathan Ridley – Carlos Sainz

I thought about saying Oscar Piastri – given that I don’t see his partnership with Lando Norris lasting much longer – but Carlos Sainz is the sensible choice. He’s experienced, a proven race winner and, at 31, he’s less likely to block Isack Hadjar’s pathway.

Red Bull, of course, snubbed Sainz in 2024, having formerly been team-mates with Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso. The Spaniard was picked up by Williams and while there’s promise in James Vowles’ project, the British team are off to a rocky start in their big year, so who’d blame Sainz for leaving?

Matthew Abbott – Carlos Sainz

A return to Red Bull for Carlos Sainz, a decade after leaving Toro Rosso, would make sense for both parties if Max Verstappen needs to be replaced sooner rather than later. His contract is up at the end of this season, and the Spaniard spoke to Red Bull two years ago before signing with Williams.

If they are looking for an experienced driver to join Isack Hadjar next season, then Sainz seems the best option who could be available. Red Bull may always promote from within, but 2027 could come too soon for either Arvid Lindblad or Liam Lawson.