The main candidate to replace Max Verstappen emerges on the restricted list with four pilots

The future of Max Verstappen remains the subject of intense speculation, despite a subtle change in the emanating language of Milton Keynes.

The quadruple world champion has a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028, although breaking clauses are known that could see a free agent well before this date.

Who is Christian Horner considering as a possible replacement of a maximum Verstappen?

The race to secure the signing of Verstappen is perhaps more strongly contested than any Grand Prix. Dutchman is the class of the estate, a generational talent capable of muscling a car with the results of which he should not be able.

It has been painfully apparent in the past year. Since the British Grand Prix of last year, Verstappen has raised 347 points, while his opposite number has only achieved 41.

In other words, Verstappen contributed 88% of the Red Bull championship points in the past year, and 96% of them in 2025.

For a team that is fourth in the manufacturers’ championship, the 27 -year -old departure therefore offers a huge risk for the operation, the one that Christian Horner and Helmut Marko are undoubtedly well aware. In all probability, they have a plan in mind if it happens.

It is not necessarily an admission that they are powerless to keep it, or to accept that he will leave but, as Horner himself said, at some point, Verstappen will no longer be a Red Bull functionality. Preparing at such a moment is simply good management.

This is also why Red Bull has its driver program, a real treadmill of potential young people. He produced Verstappen, and in front of him, Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and a crowd of others were products from this process. It generates results.

But can it develop the next Verstappen Max? Does he even need it? By putting us in the place of Christian Horner, here is our limited list of potential candidates to replace the Dutch irrepression in the short term.

George Russell

English is the main candidate for two reasons. First, it is a known and winning quantity of the race, and secondly, it is out of contract at the end of the year. With Mercedes considered to be the most likely destination if Verstappen passes from Red Bull, Russell is considered the driver most at risk.

However, the 27 -year -old is probably only available for a short period; Although it is kept by Mercedes, it is almost certain that it will find a place on the grid somewhere in F1 2026 if it is not the case, and probably on a multi -year agreement. If this “somewhere” is not Red Bull, it is unlikely that it is again an option in the predictable future.

Isack Hadjar

Aside from Sergio Perez, Red Bull has always promoted from the inside. Its pilot program has developed two world champions (and eight pilot titles) and a multitude of race winners, which is a relatively high striking rate even allowing those who have come and left over the years.

Then, online in this program, seems to be Isack Hadjar, who impressed after an inauguable start of his F1 career in Australia. But since then, this has been forward for the French who dominated Liam Lawson together.

Regarding the planning of the succession, Hadjar must be at the top of the Red Bull list. The question is whether it will be ready to switch to the senior team when its time will arrive, or if this call will arrive too early.

Liam Lawson

Preferred from the conservation of Sergio Perez at the end of F1 2024, the fate of Liam Lawson in the first two laps of the season is not planned. He had a hard time mastering himself with the car before he returned to racing bulls. In truth, his call had arrived too early when he had been parachuted in a car which is clearly a handful – Yuki Tsunoda had perfectly demonstrated it.

Since his return to racing bulls, he had started to rediscover his mojo; He recorded a better career stop with sixth in the Austrian Grand Prix. The pace and the talent remain, but his stay in Red Bull arrived too early. With more experience to his credit, he may have done better at the second moment in demand.

Arvid Lindblad

Admittedly from a FIA Super license exemption so that it is now eligible to participate in F1, Arvid Lindblad is clearly an increase in the Red Bull system. It is natural that he connects, at some point, to the system, ideally with racing bulls before, over time, going to the senior team.

However, Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri have shown that having confidence in a recruit can also pay dividends. By continuing a super license dispensation, this suggests that Red Bull Top brass have a strong faith in the 17 -year -old. Would it be the next Verstappen Max?

Find out more: Has Max Verstappen already decided on his future Red Bull F1?