Six candidates who could replace Max Verstappen at Red Bull if he quit F1

Max Verstappen is set to play a pivotal role in the 2027 Formula 1 driver market - whether he stays or goes. 

The four-time world champion’s bombshell threats to quit at the Japanese Grand Prix amid his ongoing displeasure with F1’s new rules has raised questions about his future at Red Bull and within the series altogether. 

Whatever decision Verstappen makes is sure to have a major domino effect up and down the grid, but walking away from F1 altogether at the end of the season would give Red Bull an almighty headache. 

After all, how do you replace the best driver on the grid, and who with? If Verstappen opted to call time on his F1 career, here are some options Red Bull could look to in order to fill the gaping void left by the Dutchman…

Arvid Lindblad

The simplest solution for Red Bull would be to promote from within its own driver pool. The most stand-out in-house option would be Arvid Lindblad, who has already impressed across his first three grand prix weekends in F1 at Red Bull’s sister team Racing Bulls.  

Partnering 21-year-old Isack Hadjar with the British teenager would provide Red Bull with an incredibly junior-feeling line-up, but one that is exciting and filled with plenty of promise. 

Given Red Bull’s current competitive woes, it may be hard to poach a big-name replacement for Verstappen, and so Lindblad would provide a straightforward solution, at least for the short-term. 

Charles Leclerc 

If a big-name driver is what Red Bull is looking for, then the standout candidate would probably be Charles Leclerc. 

While his loyalty to Ferrari is firm, Leclerc is growing increasingly frustrated at the Italian outfit’s failure to provide him with a car capable of winning a world championship. Indeed, at the end of last season, the Monegasque labelled 2026 as being a “now or never” year for Ferrari. 

At 28, Leclerc is in the prime years of his F1 career and currently performing at an incredibly high level. There are few in the paddock who would doubt Leclerc’s ability to fight for a world title if he was provided the right equipment. 

Right now Ferrari is in a much better competitive state than Red Bull, but if Leclerc goes another season without a world title chance, might he be tempted to jump ship and try his luck at a team that has more recent championship success?

Carlos Sainz 

If a driver like Leclerc was unattainable, it might be more realistic to target Carlos Sainz. 

Sainz is enduring a frustrating second season with Williams, who have underdelivered and been one of the biggest disappointments of 2026 with its FW48 car badly off the pace and overweight. 

According to reports, Sainz’s multi-year contract with Williams, which started in 2025, includes an exit clause that would allow the 31-year-old Spaniard to leave if a top team like Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull were to offer him a seat.

Sainz has proved himself as one of the most consistent and intelligent drivers in F1. As well as racking up four victories for Ferrari and multiple podiums, Sainz has demonstrated strong leadership capabilities. 

Could a Verstappen exit open the door for Sainz to finally get the opportunity at Red Bull he has always seemed destined to miss out on? 

Alex Albon 

Sainz’s team-mate Alex Albon could be another prime candidate for Red Bull in the event Verstappen left. 

Red Bull know Albon very well from his brief time with the team, but the 30-year-old British-born Thai racer is a far superior driver to the one who was promoted to the senior team after just 12 races into his fledgling F1 career. 

Following a bruising stint as Verstappen’s team-mate, Albon has magnificently rebuilt his reputation and F1 career at Williams, where he has spearheaded the team with regular eye-catching performances since 2022. 

Many feel Albon is deserving of another shot at a front-running team. Could it be a case of second time lucky for Albon and Red Bull?

Oscar Piastri 

A bit like Leclerc, Oscar Piastri is hot property on the F1 grid and would appeal to Red Bull. 

The Australian enjoyed his most complete season in F1 to date in 2025, and although he ultimately fell short in his quest to win a maiden world championship after being the frontrunner for much of the campaign, Piastri is considered a world champion in waiting by most in the paddock. Still just 25 and in only his fourth full season, Piastri’s best years lie ahead of him. 

During his time as team principal, Christian Horner revealed his regret at passing up on the chance to sign Piastri to Red Bull’s junior programme. Luring Piastri from McLaren feels unlikely given the position the two teams currently find themselves in. There is little reason for Piastri to jump ship at present. 

However, if Verstappen were to join the Woking squad later down the line and reunite with former Red Bull colleagues including Gianpiero Lambiase, perhaps it could lead to a direct seat swap between the pair. 

Ollie Bearman 

A wildcard option for Red Bull would be to poach Ollie Bearman from Haas. Bearman continues to excel in F1 with some incredible performances early in 2026, having outscored veteran team-mate Esteban Ocon in his maiden season last year. 

The 20-year-old Briton has been on Ferrari’s books since his junior days and is viewed as being the natural successor to Lewis Hamilton when the seven-time world champion eventually retires. But the longer Hamilton extends his legendary career, the longer Bearman will have to wait for the Ferrari seat. 

Could that tempt Bearman to look elsewhere if Red Bull came knocking and offered him a more competitive drive with the potential to be fighting towards the very front of the grid? Bearman is improving at a rate that cannot go unnoticed, and Red Bull could take advantage of this situation by capturing a potential F1 superstar of the future from one of its main rivals.