Ranking the four drivers who could replace Max Verstappen if he leaves Red Bull before 2027

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Red Bull could be delving into the Formula 1 driver market if Max Verstappen decides to leave the team in 2026, so F1 Oversteer has taken a look at four potential replacements.

The Dutchman has made it no secret that he detests the current regulation cycle and how to drive the 2026 cars. Verstappen had an ‘unprecedented’ meeting with Laurent Mekies as he looks to solve Red Bull’s issues.

The Milton Keynes outfit are sixth in the standings after three races, with Verstappen scoring just 12 points. The start to the year, combined with his dissatisfaction with the regulations, led to speculation that he could walk away from the sport.

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Verstappen is free to leave Red Bull in 2026 through an exit clause in his contract. Rumours suggest that he could either venture into other sport categories, such as GT3, or take a sabbatical and potentially return in the future.

If Verstappen leaves, it will be a monumental blow for Red Bull, but they cannot afford to dwell on it too much. Ultimately, they will have to dust themselves off and look into the F1 driver market for his replacement.

Several candidates could be on the table for the team, so F1 Oversteer has ranked four drivers who could replace Verstappen at Red Bull if he decides to leave in 2027.

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The best option – Oscar Piastri

Red Bull’s number one candidate for Verstappen’s replacement should be obvious: Oscar Piastri. The Australian has established himself as a top talent on the grid, but most importantly, a championship contender.

After losing the title to Verstappen and Lando Norris, the 24-year-old’s mood around McLaren is not great. Piastri’s relationship with Zak Brown is ‘strained’ after how the team handled the championship fight, and he is considering his future with the team.

This could open the door for Red Bull to sign another top driver who will be the face of the team and someone to lead them into the future. In fact, Ralf Schumacher can see negotiations between Piastri and Red Bull if Verstappen leaves the team.

If Piastri decides to leave McLaren, the Milton Keynes outfit need to pounce on the opportunity and line him up next to Isack Hadjar.

The second-best option – Charles Leclerc

A driver that could be held on a similar level, perhaps even higher than Piastri, is Charles Leclerc. Like Verstappen with Red Bull, Leclerc could break his Ferrari contract, which expires in 2029, in 2026.

The Monegasque driver was linked with a move away from Maranello as he expressed frustration over his lack of success with the team. Red Bull contacted Leclerc’s manager last year, so there is already a connection.

However, with Ferrari being the second-fastest car in 2026 and regularly fighting for podiums and possibly race wins, Leclerc may be keen to stay put. Red Bull are struggling to keep up with Alpine and may not be too attractive to the 28-year-old.

Leclerc should be considered a top candidate by Red Bull, but if they want to lure him away from Ferrari, they will need to make a dramatic improvement on the track.

The internal option – Arvid Lindblad

If Red Bull are unable to attract a driver outside their current pool of drivers, they already have some top talents within their arsenal. One of them is being backed as Verstappen’s successor, in Arvid Lindblad.

The 18-year-old is only three races into his F1 career, and already he is showing his talent. Lindblad finished a strong P8 in Australia, but was beaten by Racing Bulls teammate Liam Lawson in China and Japan.

What do you expect from Arvid Lindblad in the 2026 F1 season?

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Given Lawson’s torrid time at Red Bull in 2025, it is unlikely that the Kiwi driver will be seriously considered for a return. Lindblad is viewed as the future of the team, and he could get the opportunity to make the jump and replace Verstappen.

Of course, 2027 might be too soon for his development, but it will be something that Lindblad would surely not hesitate to take. He will be keen to prove a point, thus making him a candidate worth considering for Red Bull.

The wildcard – Gabriel Bortoleto

Given the chaotic nature of the driver market, a surprise move for an outside name cannot be ruled out. One driver that could be on the radar is Gabriel Bortoleto.

The Audi driver is out of contract in 2026, and manager Fernando Alonso is pushing for bigger teams to look at Bortoleto. He has had an impressive start to his F1 career, regularly beating Nico Hulkenberg in qualifying in 2025.

In fact, Verstappen has told Red Bull to keep an eye on Bortoleto in the future. With the pair being close friends off the track, the Dutchman could put a word in for the Brazilian to replace him.

Bortoleto is another top talent that will be worth considering. But it would be hard to imagine Audi giving up on him that easily, especially with how well he has started in F1.