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F1 trades: Verstappen to Ferrari? Piastri warned off Red Bull
Emily Benammar • May 14th, 2026 2:54 pm
F1 cult figure Guenther Steiner has backed Ferrari to make a bold move to land Max Verstappen if the four-time world champion looks to exit his Red Bull contract.
Amid relentless speculation that the Dutchman could even retire, whispers from the paddock range from calling time to three other teams chasing the 28-year-old.
Top of the list is a projected driver swap with McLaren given Verstappen’s race engineer will join the papaya in 2028. It would likely see Oscar Piastri suit up for Red Bull.
Next up is the option of Ferrari ditching one of their drivers for Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton is reportedly out of contract at the end of this season and at 41 may also be considering what comes next in his life.
Charles Leclerc is believed to be under contract until the end of 2028 but as we all know, the fickle nature of F1 is such that agreements often count for very little.
There is always an out.
And then there’s Mercedes. Currently topping the constructor’s race and occupying the two top spots in the drivers championship through Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Would change make any sense with the Silver Arrows?
"In my opinion, Max can only go to 3 teams: Ferrari, McLaren, or Mercedes," Steiner, the former Haas team principal, said.
"But is there anything available at the moment? Maybe not, but would they make something available for Max Verstappen? That is the big question.
"Who is prepared to sacrifice what they've got now for Max, because Max is, in my opinion, the champ, he's the GOAT. He's not the world champion, obviously, that is Lando, but he is a four-time world champion.
"Some teams will think about it, just look back at when Ferrari let Carlos Sainz go, who was doing a good job, because the GOAT Lewis Hamilton came around.
"So, I think something like this needs to happen, but that is the thing Max will be looking for. And I'm pretty sure we don't have to tell him to do that.
"He will be looking and speaking with these three teams, but I don't think there is one which is focused on him."
Amid the whispers and rumours a former Ferrari engineer has publicly warned Piastri not to assume the grass will be greener somewhere like Red Bull.
While the Aussie may often play second fiddle to Lando Norris at McLaren, speculation around him being Red Bull’s “Plan B” must be looked at with caution.
Rob Smedley, who worked alongside Felipe Massa at Ferrari, has warned that leaving for the opportunity of being a No 1 is not something he has ever seen play out well.
"McLaren is catching up, Mercedes is in front at this point, but over the last two years they've probably been the best team," Smedley said on the High Performance Racing podcast.
"This year they'll be there or thereabouts. They know how to win world championships now, they could now win multiple constructors' world championships on the bounce.
"So that's telling you that this is a team that is entering its pomp if it doesn't mess up.
"Then, if you're a driver in that team and you're struggling against your teammate – and I'm going back now to my Ferrari days – what's the option for you?
"Do you leave and go to a worse team that actually has no chance of winning the world championship, but you might be the better driver in the team? The No.1?" he said.
"I've seen that on many an occasion – I've seen drivers do that and I've never seen it work out well.
"I've never seen it where the driver has been happier."
F1 returns on May 23-24 in Canada.
