When Max Verstappen can officially walk out of Red Bull as shock team 'holds talks' over signing him

Max Verstappen's future at Red Bull carries huge uncertainty, and according to reports, a shock team has held talks over signing him.

The four-time world champion has endured a disastrous Formula One campaign, currently sitting seventh in the Drivers' Championship after 11 races, and tensions between him and Red Bull are growing as a result.

Verstappen has repeatedly complained about power issues and the safety of his car, doing so once more in the aftermath of Sunday's British Grand Prix.

The 28-year-old was on course to record his third successive podium of 2026 before spinning out in the gravel with five laps remaining, and he was seen throwing his steering wheel out of the cockpit while unleashing his anger towards the team and the car over the radio.

With his frustration at an all-time high, speculation over his future is naturally a huge talking point. Verstappen has multiple exit clauses in his Red Bull contract, and at least one of those has now come into play as he can't climb into the top two before the summer break.

Verstappen is therefore free to leave Red Bull two years before his contract is set to end, and he could potentially join McLaren in a blockbuster swap deal with Oscar Piastri.

"For me, it doesn’t mean much. Obviously Max is the talent he is, and looking around. I’m very happy with where I am," Piastri said when commenting on the rumours last weekend.

“I’ve been told multiple times that the team are happy with me and I trust them. So, for me, it doesn’t really mean much. A contract is in place as well. I’m just trying to build on the success I’ve had.”

Although the Australian has dismissed rumours of him joining Red Bull, McLaren are said to be in advanced negotiations with Verstappen, and they aren't the only team chasing his signature ahead of 2027.

According to BBC Sport's F1 correspondent Andrew Benson, Verstappen's management are talking to all potential candidate teams, and that includes Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren.

Red Bull's rivals are said to see the Dutchman as a 'compelling' option, and they would find it 'difficult' to turn him down if he was definitely interested. The report also claims that the 'trigger point' for Max Verstappen's exit clauses, is in October.

Max Verstappen told to be 'selfish' when deciding his future

For months, Verstappen has cut a frustrated figure and has even considered retirement on numerous occasions.

Unsurprisingly, 2009 world champion Jenson Button has urged him to be "selfish" when making arguably the most crucial decision of his career.

“A lot of people he’s worked with for many years and won championships with have left and gone elsewhere," Button said on the Sky Sports F1 podcast.

“It must be very strange. It must feel kind of a bit lonely with in that team for him. Everyone’s brand new around him.

“So I think he’ll be looking elsewhere. Yeah, I really do. The team that, if I was his management, would want to put him in is in Mercedes obviously alongside Kimi, or alongside George, whichever one they choose to move on."

Button discussed the idea of Verstappen joining Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes, and they could provide strong competition with McLaren for his signature.