McLaren told their ‘advantage’ in any race to sign Max Verstappen for 2027 by Giedo van der Garde

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Giedo van der Garde believes McLaren can emerge as an “option” for Max Verstappen if the Dutchman decides to leave Red Bull but elect against retiring from F1 after 2026.

Verstappen has put the Formula 1 paddock on red alert as he has threatened to retire at the end of the year due to his hatred of the new engine regulations. The 28-year-old loathes the increased role that the battery now plays, along with Red Bull developing a sub-standard car.

The Red Bull RB22 has added to Verstappen’s despair, as the Milton Keynes natives have not adapted to the new aerodynamic and chassis regulations as well as the new engine formula. Isack Hadjar has called Red Bull’s chassis “terrible”, owing to their chronic balance problems.

A difficult time at the Japanese Grand Prix thus saw Verstappen threaten to retire from F1 at the end of this season. While his contract runs through 2028, the 28-year-old is highly likely to meet the conditions needed for a release clause to be active in the latter half of the year.

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McLaren’s hires from Red Bull give them an ‘advantage’ if Max Verstappen moves teams

It is understood that Verstappen will have from August to October to use his release clause, should he hit the summer break outside the top two in the F1 drivers’ standings. And after McLaren recently hired Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen has also been linked with a move.

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Reports suggest that McLaren would most likely replace Oscar Piastri to sign Verstappen, if the four-time drivers’ champion is open to the move. And Van der Garde believes Lambiase further improves McLaren’s position, having also recently signed other key Red Bull figures.

Van der Garde told Formule1.nl: “Max moving to McLaren could well be an option. It’s up to Max and his management to carefully consider what they want, and where they can secure the best deal.

“There are plenty of options, because everyone wants Max. McLaren have the advantage of having more Red Bull veterans on board with whom he has enjoyed success, such as Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay.”

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Lambiase has agreed to join McLaren no later than 2028, after the Woking outfit offered him the role of chief racing officer. Verstappen’s race engineer is the latest big name to leave Red Bull for McLaren, after Marshall moved to Woking in 2024 and Courtenay switched in 2026.

Marshall left his role as Red Bull’s chief engineering officer to be McLaren’s chief technical officer and chief designer. Courtenay joined McLaren ahead of the 2026 F1 season as their sporting director, having served as Red Bull’s head of race strategy until the close of 2025.

But the chances of McLaren adding Verstappen to their list of Red Bull defectors appear low. CEO Zak Brown says McLaren have “no intention” of replacing Piastri and Lando Norris even if Verstappen is on the market, and would predict that he joins Mercedes if he moves teams.