FIA steward Derek Warwick sensationally reveals four-time world champion is ‘obviously talking to every team’ with Red Bull in freefall
Max Verstappen is in secret negotiations with FOUR rival Formula 1 teams as Red Bull’s dramatic decline sees them languishing in fourth place in the constructors’ championship, a senior FIA official has sensationally revealed.
The reigning four-time world champion is holding discussions with McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes AND Aston Martin about a potential move for 2026 and beyond, according to FIA steward Derek Warwick.
The explosive revelation comes as Red Bull find themselves a staggering distance behind championship leaders McLaren, with Christian Horner’s team struggling to close the performance gap to their rivals.
THE FOUR SUITORS
In an extraordinary interview with Plejmo, veteran steward Warwick lifted the lid on Verstappen’s options:
“Well, obviously he’s talking to every team, but when you say every team, that’s only really McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, and maybe Aston Martin,” the 70-year-old revealed.
The bombshell admission confirms months of paddock speculation about the Dutchman’s future, with his current Red Bull contract running until 2028.
WARWICK’S VERDICT
The former F1 driver, who competed in 147 Grands Prix, offered his candid assessment of each potential destination:
ASTON MARTIN: “Aston would be a big gamble, but they do have Adrian Newey there.”
MERCEDES: “Mercedes will always be there or thereabouts, although they’ve had a lean period for them these last three years. If I was Mercedes, would I want to get rid of George or Kimi?”
THE MONEY FACTOR: “I think the big, big paycheck would come from Aston Martin if that’s what he’s interested in.”
Despite the sensational revelations, Warwick believes Verstappen will ultimately remain at Red Bull: “I think at the end of the day he’ll stay at Red Bull.
RED BULL IN CRISIS
The Milton Keynes team’s dramatic fall from grace has been nothing short of spectacular:
- Currently sitting FOURTH in the constructors’ championship
- McLaren dominating with multiple race wins
- Verstappen forced to perform “extraordinary things” just to keep his car competitive
- Only managed ONE victory so far in 2025 (Japanese Grand Prix)
The team that dominated F1 with 21 wins out of 22 races in 2023 now finds itself struggling to match the pace of McLaren’s rampant MCL38.
THE MCLAREN FACTOR
McLaren’s resurgence under Zak Brown has been remarkable, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri combining to give the Woking team a commanding lead in the constructors’ championship.
Warwick revealed: “I think people at Mercedes will want to free up space, but I also think McLaren will consider it. I think Zak Brown, like everyone else, is interested in Max.”
The admission is particularly intriguing given McLaren inquired about Verstappen’s availability last year before committing to long-term deals with both Norris and Piastri.
THE NEWEY CONNECTION
Adrian Newey’s shock departure from Red Bull to join Aston Martin has added another dimension to the saga. The legendary designer, who masterminded all of Verstappen’s championship-winning cars, could prove a crucial factor in any decision.
Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll is reportedly prepared to offer a “£1 billion” package to secure Verstappen’s services, though the team categorically denied recent rumors spread by their commercial director.
SHOCK RETIREMENT THREAT
In a stunning twist, Verstappen’s former mechanic Calum Nicholas has predicted the Dutchman could RETIRE after winning a fifth title this season.
“Five,” Nicholas said when asked how many championships Verstappen would win. “I think Max is going to win the Drivers’ [Championship] this year, and then I think he’s going to call it a day.”
The 27-year-old has repeatedly stated he has no intention of racing into his 40s like Fernando Alonso or Lewis Hamilton.
MERCEDES STILL IN THE HUNT
Despite signing teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli for 2025, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has never hidden his admiration for Verstappen.
The Silver Arrows chief previously described signing the Dutchman as an “attractive” proposition, with Verstappen confirming “very constructive conversations” had taken place.
Warwick noted: “I think the answer to that is no [about dropping Russell or Antonelli], but the trouble is when you’ve got arguably the fastest driver in Formula One knocking on your door, I think he can open most doors.”
BEYOND F1
Intriguingly, Verstappen himself has hinted that discussions with rival teams extend beyond just Formula 1.
“Mercedes, Ferrari, Aston Martin – it’s not even related to F1 itself. Red Bull, of course, also do a lot outside F1,” he revealed last December.
The four-time champion has made no secret of his endurance racing ambitions, with the 24 Hours of Le Mans firmly on his bucket list.
THE BOTTOM LINE
As Red Bull’s struggles continue and rival teams circle like sharks, one thing is clear: Max Verstappen holds all the cards in determining F1’s future landscape.
With four teams actively courting his signature and a potential early retirement looming, the sport’s dominant force of recent years faces the biggest decision of his career.
Christian Horner may need more than just car improvements to keep his star driver – he needs a miracle.
📸 Image credit:
- Title: Max Verstappen at the 2021 French Grand Prix
- Author: Nicolas Tucat (AP), via Free Malaysia Todaycommons.wikimedia.org+10commons.wikimedia.org+10commons.wikimedia.org+10
- Date: 20 June 2022 commons.wikimedia.org+1commons.wikimedia.org+1
- License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 License details
