Max Verstappen told he has no reason to join McLaren over Mercedes if he leaves Red Bull

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Marc Surer questions “why” Max Verstappen would consider joining a customer team like McLaren over a works outfit like Mercedes in 2027 if he decides to leave Red Bull.

Verstappen is under contract for Red Bull through the 2028 season, after he agreed to a very lucrative long-term deal in 2022 after securing his first of four consecutive drivers’ titles. But the Dutchman recently raised doubts about his future in Formula 1 beyond the end of 2026.

F1’s 2026 engine regulations have frustrated Verstappen to the extent that he is threatening to retire unless he sees significant tweaks. The 28-year-old hates the increased role that the battery plays in the PU, after F1 moved from a 20/80 split favouring the ICE to nearly 50/50.

Almost every top team has been credited with at least a degree of interest in a swoop since Verstappen threatened to retire from F1 in Japan last month. It has also been suggested that McLaren hiring Gianpiero Lambiase from 2028 could help them to sign Verstappen one day.

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Marc Surer thinks Max Verstappen should reject McLaren as Mercedes are a ‘much better’ option

But while reports even suggest that McLaren would be more likely to replace Oscar Piastri to sign Verstappen if the Red Bull ace welcomed it, Surer thinks joining the papaya outfit would be the wrong choice. Instead, Verstappen should join Mercedes, as they are a factory squad.

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“At the moment, you have to say it’s Mercedes,” Surer told Total-Motorsport.com about Verstappen’s best option for 2027. “Why should he go to a customer team?

“I mean, McLaren, I really think they are the best team in Formula 1 at the moment, because what they did the last two years was really impressive. They got everything right and still had a customer engine. So, they are really, really good.

“But on the other hand, I think to go with the work teams, especially now with the new regulations, is much better.”

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has long wanted to sign Verstappen after missing on the Dutchman’s services as a youth to Red Bull. But Wolff has ruled out Mercedes trying to sign Verstappen again for 2027, although his comments were before the Red Bull racer’s threats.

It has also been said since the Red Bull ace threatened to retire from F1 that Wolff is almost certain to target Verstappen for 2027. A chance to sign the 71-time Grand Prix winner could emerge in 2026 as it is very likely that Verstappen will have the right to use a release clause.

Verstappen only needs to reach the summer break sitting outside the top two in the 2026 F1 drivers’ standings for a release clause in his contract with Red Bull to become available. Also, it is understood that Verstappen will have from August to October to use his release clause.