Max Verstappen could now replace Lewis Hamilton but he’s ‘always’ been sceptical about Ferrari

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Max Verstappen could now join Ferrari for 2027, if he ultimately decides to end his Red Bull contract early, as Lewis Hamilton retiring after the 2026 season is said to be likely.

Four-time champion Verstappen has sparked doubts over his future, not just at Red Bull but in Formula 1, due to his loathing of the 2026 engine regulations. Red Bull have also failed to provide the Dutchman with a competitive car under this year’s aero and chassis regulations.

Verstappen might have an extra incentive to follow through on his threats to leave Red Bull this year, as well, after McLaren confirmed that Gianpiero Lambiase is joining them in 2028. Lambiase will join McLaren as their chief racing officer and he will work under Andrea Stella.

Lambiase’s exit could add further fuel to Verstappen’s threats to retire from F1 at the end of 2026 or quit Red Bull via a release clause in his contract through 2028. The 28-year-old only has to be outside the top two in the drivers’ standings this summer to get the right to leave.

Jos Verstappen doubts Max Verstappen will leave Red Bull because of Gianpiero Lambiase’s departure like he vowed in 2021 – Who do you think should replace GP?

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Max Verstappen doubts whether Ferrari can guarantee success if he replaces Lewis Hamilton

Verstappen will have from August to October to use his release clause if it indeed becomes available, which looks very likely based on Red Bull’s early form this year. But the Daily Mail reports that Verstappen would ideally prefer to remain loyal to Red Bull if they can improve.

READ MORE: Jos makes Max Verstappen retirement claim after Gianpiero Lambiase’s exit

Should Red Bull fail to develop their car – after Verstappen called the RB22 “undriveable” in Japan, where teammate Isack Hadjar described the chassis as “terrible” – then he will likely look around the grid. And replacing Hamilton at Ferrari might be an avenue for Verstappen.

The Daily Mail reports that Hamilton retiring at the end of the 2026 F1 season is now ‘likely’, so Verstappen could move to the Scuderia next year. However, the Red Bull star and his dad, Jos Verstappen, are believed to have ‘always’ been ‘sceptical’ about him switching to Ferrari.

The Verstappens are thought to be doubtful about his chances of having sustained success with the Scuderia. Ferrari have not won the F1 drivers’ championship since Kimi Raikkonen’s 2007 title and they last won the teams’ title in 2008, making this their longest-ever drought.

Despite the believed concerns of the Verstappen clan, a move to Maranello has been on the 71-time Grand Prix winner’s radar for a while. Even after it was no longer possible for him to leave Red Bull in 2025, it was said that Verstappen was open to replacing Hamilton for 2027.

Also, last August Jos Verstappen said he and Max spoke “a lot” about joining Ferrari in 2026 while the Red Bull driver was still weighing up his options. They also discussed how the four-time F1 champion would feel about joining Mercedes if he had the chance to leave Red Bull.

Red Bull survived the threat of Verstappen leaving at the end of 2025, as he had to be fourth or lower in the drivers’ standings at the summer break to secure the right to break out of his contract. But he only has to be third or worse in 2026, which currently seems very probable.