According to former Italian Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese, Max Verstappen is currently in a position where he could choose any team on the grid, with even Ferrari reportedly capable of finding him a seat should he decide to make a move away from Red Bull.
Everyone at the feet of Max Verstappen
The announcement of Gianpiero Lambiase’s departure from Red Bull has opened the floodgates of speculation surrounding Max Verstappen’s future. On one hand, there is a growing awareness that the Dutch driver—who has even directly encouraged Lambiase to consider a move to McLaren—could eventually seek to reunite with his trusted race engineer. On the other hand, Red Bull’s current lack of competitiveness with the RB22 is fueling the idea that the four-time world champion might leave Milton Keynes in search of a more competitive package, or even take a break from Formula 1 altogether by embracing a more romantic but less financially rewarding challenge in GT racing or the World Endurance Championship.
The opinion of Riccardo Patrese
Riccardo Patrese shares this perspective. In an interview with BettingLounge, the former F1 driver explained that a talent like Max Verstappen would have no difficulty securing a seat in any team of his choosing.
“There are many rumours, but if Max wants to change, he can do it easily. Everyone would like to have someone like him in their team, so if he wanted McLaren, surely one of the current two drivers, maybe Oscar Piastri, would have to leave. If he wanted Mercedes, it would probably be George Russell who would have to give up his seat, considering that Kimi Antonelli is in a very strong position for the championship,” Patrese said.
Ferrari is also not excluded from the equation. Patrese continued: “Even if he wanted to go to Ferrari, they would probably find him a place there as well. In fact, for now Maranello has done a good job, they are happier because the car is new and they hope to develop it in such a way as to be competitive and win. But if they fail to do so, then I think in the end a driver could pay the consequences, because the management might decide to change something. And that could mean trying to bring Max Verstappen in.”
He also highlighted how everything ultimately depends on Verstappen himself: “But the triggering factor of any move is what he decides to do. He is the first piece of the puzzle, then everything else will move accordingly.”
In summary, Riccardo Patrese’s analysis reinforces the idea that Max Verstappen remains the ultimate “King” of the Formula 1 market. While the technical struggle at Red Bull continues to fuel speculation, it is clear that the world champion holds all the cards, and his next decision will dictate the future of the entire 2026 grid and beyond.
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