Will Verstappen leave Red Bull? F1's biggest 'silly season' rumours

Max Verstappen’s contract situation is fueling renewed attention on the biggest F1 driver “silly season” scenarios, as the 28-year-old still hasn’t confirmed whether he’ll stay at Red Bull beyond 2027. Verstappen has a £50m-a-year deal through the end of 2028, but an exit clause lets him leave if he’s outside the top two in the drivers’ championship by the summer break. At that point, he sits sixth, 110 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli. Red Bull’s struggles are a key factor: third in the constructors’ standings in 2025 and fourth at the 2026 summer break. Mercedes is the most obvious contender, with McLaren also viewed as viable if Verstappen joins the team where Oscar Piastri could be the one displaced.