Max Verstappen urged to take 'selfish' approach to F1 future

2009 F1 champion Jenson Button has stated Max Verstappen must be “selfish” when it comes to a decision over his future.

While Verstappen has a Red Bull contract in place until the end of 2028, it has been widely reported that a performance clause exists in his deal, allowing him to leave if he is not in the top two of the drivers' championship by the summer break.

Having once been heavily linked with a move to Mercedes, a more up-to-date rumour has put the Dutchman in contention for a shock switch to McLaren to race alongside Lando Norris.

RacingNews365 understands that Oscar Piastri is still seen by McLaren as a figure who will remain at the team for the “foreseeable future” - however such a dramatic development can't be completely ruled out.

With Verstappen voicing his frustrations with the Red Bull car following his retirement from the British Grand Prix last weekend, Button stated it is only natural for his management team to be holding conversations with other squads.

“If his management weren't asking around, they're not doing their job properly,” Button told Sky F1. “They should be asking around.

“I'm sure there are two teams that he'd be interested in, McLaren and obviously the big one at the moment, Mercedes. 

“All drivers have contracts, but money talks. There's always a way of moving a driver on to somewhere else. 

“Max at Red Bull, he sounds really frustrated at the moment. He puts a happy face on a lot of the time, but I think he's very frustrated with the situation.”

Max Verstappen feeling 'lonely' at Red Bull

Red Bull has faced various exits from the team across the last handful of years, most notably Christian Horner, Adrian Newey and Helmut Marko.

Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will also depart in 2028 and join McLaren, adding further weight to the speculation of a shock Verstappen switch to the Woking-based squad.

With Red Bull undergoing a significant shift in personnel across in recent times, Button has theorised that Verstappen is starting to feel “lonely” at the team.

“A lot of people that he's worked with for many years and won championships with have left and gone elsewhere,” he said.

“It must be very strange, it must feel kind of a bit lonely within that team for him. 

“Everyone is brand new around him, so I think he'll be looking elsewhere, I really do, for next year.

“The team that, if I was his management, I would want to put him in, is Mercedes, obviously, alongside Kimi or alongside George, whichever one they choose to move on.

“You've got to be ruthless, you've got to be selfish in his position, because he's a lot further into his career.”