James Allen could see Max Verstappen getting ‘on the phone’ to Mercedes rivals to switch teams after 2026

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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is set to be the key to the Formula 1 driver market heading into 2026.

The upcoming Formula 1 regulation changes could mix up the pecking order, putting all of Red Bull’s rivals on red alert that Max Verstappen could be available for 2027.

There are already suggestions that Red Bull could be on the back foot in 2026, which will test just how loyal Verstappen is to the team that gave him his chance in Formula 1 and helped him win four drivers’ championships.

Team principal Laurent Mekies has overseen a small revival at Red Bull since Christian Horner’s exit.

Verstappen has been given more responsibility over his setup during race weekends, which has coincided with an improvement in his results.

Whether the Dutchman would have a similar level of power at any of Red Bull’s rivals on the grid is another matter, but commentator and journalist James Allen has been discussing the 28-year-old’s future.

He believes that there are a few teams he would potentially consider joining if Red Bull failed to meet his expectations, and he might even get ‘on the phone’ to McLaren boss Zak Brown if the current constructors’ champions continue their dominance next year.

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James Allen suggests Max Verstappen could get ‘on the phone’ to McLaren if Red Bull fail in 2026

Allen was asked on The Red Flags Podcast about Verstappen’s future, and he said: “If you step back from it, the guy who drives the market from here is Verstappen.

“Because what’s going to happen next year is he’s going to get out of the box. He’s going to go testing. He’s going to go racing at the beginning of the season, and he’s going to look at all of those cars, and he’s going to make a decision in the first five or six months of next year where he wants to go next.

“And in my mind, pretty much anything is possible. I think it’s even possible that he could look at McLaren if they’ve got a good car and get on the phone to Zak Brown and say, listen, if you want me, I will come, but you’ll have to biff off one of your two drivers.

“I can see him going to Toto Wolf and saying that if there’s a seat and Antonelli potentially gets biffed out. He’s demonstrated this year that he is by head and shoulders the best driver in Formula 1.

“If he’s on the market next year, any of those top teams is going to want to have him, and the other one would be Aston Martin, of course, as well with Honda and Newey. If they’ve got a decent-looking car that looks like it’s got potential and Newey looks like he’s really getting somewhere, I could see Verstappen doing that.

“But equally, I could see a more dramatic play.”

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Zak Brown’s stance on Max Verstappen joining McLaren shared amid current driver tension

Verstappen is the standout driver on the grid right now, and the fact that he’s still in contention for the drivers’ championship this year despite McLaren’s dominance speaks volumes about his talent.

Brown has previously reached out to Verstappen’s camp to explore a potential move to the Woking-based team.

Both current McLaren drivers are said to be aware of this interest, and speculation has already started that suggests Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris might not be destined to be teammates in the long term, given the recent decisions made by the team.

Piastri has been linked with Ferrari among other teams, which would open up a seat for Verstappen.

However, how well he’d deal with being Norris’ teammate going forward is another matter, but it would be a fascinating subplot for 2027 and beyond if it did happen.

It appears as though if the opportunity came about, McLaren would explore signing Verstappen, but they would have to convince the four-time world champion that they were the best option if his spell at Red Bull is going to come to an end.