Max Verstappen 'speaking' with three-team F1 shortlist as Red Bull exit rumours persist

Guenther Steiner believes Max Verstappen will be exploring his options with Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren as speculation continues over the Dutchman's Red Bull future.

Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, but his deal is understood to contain performance-based exit clauses which could allow an early departure from the struggling Milton Keynes outfit.

One of those pertains to where the 28-year-old lies in the drivers' standings at the summer break. If he is outside the top two, that would open the door to leaving at the end of the season.

Red Bull currently sits fourth in the constructors' championship with just 30 points after four rounds, after a troubled start to the campaign, with Verstappen himself in seventh, with all but four of his team's haul.

When asked whether Verstappen should move to Ferrari, as recently suggested by David Coulthard, Steiner outlined a three-team shortlist for the four-time F1 drivers' champion.

"In my opinion, Max can only go to 3 teams: Ferrari, McLaren, or Mercedes," the former Haas team principal told casino.org.

"But is there anything available at the moment? Maybe not, but would they make something available for Max Verstappen? That is the big question.

"Who is prepared to sacrifice what they've got now for Max, because Max is, in my opinion, the champ, he's the GOAT. He's not the world champion, obviously, that is Lando, but he is a four-time world champion."

He pointed to Ferrari's decision to replace Carlos Sainz with Lewis Hamilton as proof that top teams will move drivers aside for generational talent.

Verstappen's close ties to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff have fuelled speculation about a potential switch to Brackley, though those links have cooled somewhat of late.

Adding intrigue to the McLaren connection, Verstappen's long-time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, will join the Woking team as chief racing officer by 2028, adding weight to that option.

"Some teams will think about it," Steiner said. "Just look back at when Ferrari let Carlos [Sainz] go, who was doing a good job, because the GOAT Lewis Hamilton came around."

"So, I think something like this needs to happen, but that is the thing Max will be looking for. And I'm pretty sure we don't have to tell him to do that.

"He will be looking and speaking with these three teams, but I don't think there is one which is focused on him."