Max Verstappen options assessed as Red Bull future remains unclear

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has assessed Max Verstappen's options, with the Dutchman still yet to commit to Red Bull for 2027.

While the four-time world champion is under contract with the Milton Keynes-based outfit until the end of 2028, exit clauses in his deal would allow him to leave at the conclusion of the current campaign.

Already this year, Verstappen has been linked with both Mercedes and McLaren, although a move to either appears difficult.

Ferrari has two drivers under contract for 2027, so that option is off the table, while Mercedes also looks set to have Kimi Antonelli and George Russell for next year.

Sticking with Red Bull could end up being Verstappen's only option, and Steiner believes that would not be a bad thing at all.

Asked for his opinion on Verstappen's future, Steiner told the Up to Speed podcast: "He's got a lot of opinions. What I think the problem for Max at the moment is, after the last race, if he had asked me [before Hungary], I would have said going to McLaren was a sideways move. 

"After [Hungary], maybe it isn't a sideways move, but things change, let's call it like this, you know. But for me, if Max goes somewhere, obviously he wants to go somewhere which is better than Red Bull, and there aren't many teams around that are better than Red Bull. 

"Maybe Red Bull at the moment is not where they want to be, at the forefront like they were a few years ago. But it's still one of the big four good teams. 

"And I think at Ferrari, the seats are filled. At Mercedes, obviously, I think they have found the next Max Verstappen now, so maybe they don't need the real Max Verstappen at the moment."