Max Verstappen set to stay at Red Bull given what he now realises about Kimi Antonelli

Follow us on Google Discover

Max Verstappen is set to stay at Red Bull for the rest of his contract through 2028, as he does not want to go up against Andrea Kimi Antonelli as teammates for Mercedes.

The driver market for 2027 has so far hinged on the questions surrounding which team four-time champion Verstappen will drive for next season. Yet the key to the market may now fall to two-time champion Fernando Alonso and whether he wants to re-sign with Aston Martin.

Verstappen has been central to the market for the past few years, but this year is likely to be the first time that he can actually break his contract with Red Bull early. The 28-year-old only has to enter the summer break outside the top two in the standings to get the right to leave.

Currently, the Dutchman is due to see his exit clause become available, as he is seventh with three rounds until the summer break and faces a 58-point deficit to second. And Verstappen will have from August to October to trigger his exit clause, should he decide to quit Red Bull.

You’re in charge of a Red Bull rival, how much would you offer Max Verstappen for 2027?

Ralf Schumacher claims Mercedes' offer is "so bad" financially

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Max Verstappen will stay at Red Bull as Andrea Kimi Antonelli would cause him ‘problems’ at Mercedes

Yet according to Blick, Verstappen now intends to not only stay with Red Bull in the 2027 F1 season, but for at least the remainder of his current contract through 2028. He believes it is a ‘relatively easy’ decision, as there are currently no appealing drives elsewhere on the grid.

READ MORE: The best moments of Max Verstappen’s career in Formula 1

Verstappen does not see McLaren or Ferrari as viable moves, as neither would allow him the ‘privileges’ that Red Bull do by letting him do GT3 races, like the Nurburgring 24 Hours. Also, Verstappen believes he can beat Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc while driving for Red Bull.

Mercedes, too, would ‘never’ let Verstappen do GT3 races alongside his F1 duties if he were to ever join them. Yet the main aspect currently putting Verstappen off a move to Mercedes is that he now realises that Antonelli would cause him ‘more problems’ than he would like.

So, Mercedes have ‘promised’ George Russell that he will continue to drive for them in 2027 alongside Antonelli, hence the Briton’s claim at the Austrian Grand Prix that he will “100 per cent” by staying. Russell had faced the biggest risk of Verstappen taking his seat in 2027.

Jenson Button questions Kimi Antonelli’s ‘consistency’ but hails his ‘undeniable’ speed

Antonelli had an up-and-down rookie F1 season with Mercedes in 2025, as he followed up a record-breaking start with a mid-season slump due to his woes caused by their ill-fated rear suspension upgrade. But the Italian ended 2025 strongly, and he has carried that into 2026.

The 19-year-old tops the 2026 drivers’ standings after taking five wins and seven podiums in the first eight rounds, thanks to Mercedes largely acing the new regulations. He has cast a shadow over his more experienced teammate Russell, who trails the teenager by 40 points.

Now, Verstappen is believed to fear the problems that Antonelli would cause him, if he were to leave Red Bull for Mercedes. Antonelli’s pace is his most impressive skill, as far as Jenson Button is concerned, but the 2009 drivers’ champion still questions the Italian’s consistency.

Button told Sky Sports: “When you look at Kimi’s speed, just every race he is there. And in Austria, he was less than two seconds from the win in a race that really did not go his way.

“His speed is undeniable, but then it is the consistency, whether he can be consistent with putting laps together and wheel-to-wheel combat.”