Red Bull learn demands of long-term Max Verstappen replacement in huge blow to rival

Red Bull Racing reportedly view Oliver Bearman as a driver of interest amid continued uncertainty over the future of Max Verstappen.

Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until 2028 but has an exit clause in his deal that would allow him to depart if he's outside the top two in the Drivers' Championship going into the summer break.

That period is now active, with the 28-year-old currently sixth in the Drivers' Championship rankings after he finished runner-up at the Hungarian Grand Prix last month.

There has still been no official confirmation of what Verstappen will do next, with Red Bull eager to offer the four-time world champion an improved contract that would waive the clause.

With so much uncertainty, rumours are rife regarding several potential driver changes, with Verstappen's future certain to have a knock-on effect across the sport.

One of those is the future of Bearman. Sky Sports F1 claim the 21-year-old driver is viewed as a long-term option by Red Bull and could be targeted if they lose their star driver before his contract comes to an end.

Although he became a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy back in 2022 and the youngest-ever driver to compete for Ferrari, he joined Haas as a full-time driver last year. He is contracted to remain with Haas until at least the end of the current season, when he too could be on the move.

With no spaces currently available at Ferrari, it is suggested the British driver could be enticed by the chance to join Racing Bulls and set himself up for an obvious pathway to the Red Bull roster. Since it was established twenty years ago, Racing Bulls has been a team where young Red Bull drivers could gain valuable experience in F1, with the best performers making their step up.

Bearman is not the only driver being considered, though. Sky Sports claim Carlos Sainz would also be a leading candidate to replace Verstappen, while it is also suggested that Racing Bulls star Arvid Lindblad and F2 driver Nikola Tsolov would be options, although it would be an almighty risk to pair either of them with Isack Hadjar.

Speaking to Formule1.nl this week, Racing Bulls chief Alan Permane insisted that the uncertainty over Verstappen at Red Bull did not impact the thinking at the feeder team.

"For my team, nothing changes, because Max doesn't drive for us," he said. "If you want to know what happens at Red Bull, you need to ask Laurent Mekies that question. It's up to Laurent to decide who drives for Red Bull next season. That's not my call."