Scuderia Ferrari has recently been thrust into the spotlight regarding the possibility of signing Max Verstappen for the 2026 Formula 1 season, as rumors of the Dutch driver’s potential departure from Red Bull continue to intensify.
The four-time Formula 1 world champion has been linked with leaving the Milton Keynes-based team since the previous season. Internal conflicts, including the departures of key figures such as Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley, raised concerns that the Dutchman might follow suit. However, the 27-year-old remained with Red Bull and secured his fourth title in 2024. Despite this, the 2025 season has seen growing speculation about his future, as Max Verstappen has expressed mounting frustration with Red Bull’s performance and development.
Although Verstappen won the Japanese Grand Prix and secured two pole positions in 2025, he has struggled to adapt to the RB21. Red Bull’s performance has notably regressed compared to 2024, fueling rumors that Max Verstappen could leave the team before his contract expires in 2028. While Mercedes and Aston Martin are frequently mentioned as potential suitors for the Dutchman, Aston Martin appears to be the most serious contender, reportedly offering Verstappen a £1 billion contract to rejoin forces with Adrian Newey and Honda.
Fans are eager to see Verstappen join Aston Martin, but there is also speculation that he might take a sabbatical from Formula 1, potentially returning in 2027. Should this scenario unfold, it could open the door for Verstappen to join Ferrari, creating further intrigue around his future.
Ferrari currently has one of the strongest driver line-ups on the grid with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, yet the team has struggled for consistency in 2025. Charles Leclerc secured Ferrari’s first podium of the season in Jeddah, while Hamilton has faced significant challenges adapting to the car, battling with balance issues and a considerable performance deficit compared to his teammate.
Lewis Hamilton, who is under contract with Ferrari until 2026, has the option for an extension into 2027. This could potentially pave the way for Max Verstappen to join the team, but according to F1 journalist Edd Straw, Ferrari is not currently pursuing the Dutchman. In fact, the British F1 journalist states that Ferrari is fully focused on their current driver pairing and is not exploring options for Verstappen at this time.
Edd Straw explained on The Race F1 Podcast that the speculation surrounding Max Verstappen’s future in 2026 and 2027 does not involve Ferrari, as the team is not actively pursuing him. Ferrari’s commitment to Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton for the foreseeable future, the Formula 1 journalist and broadcaster added, means that the situation is unlikely to change before 2027.
However, the mere possibility of Max Verstappen joining Ferrari is raising concerns for the Briton, who has not enjoyed the smooth start to his Maranello career that many had anticipated. While Hamilton did secure a Sprint win in China, his best finish in a race so far in 2025 has been fifth place in Bahrain, and his performance in Saudi Arabia was disappointing.
In Jeddah, Lewis Hamilton struggled throughout the weekend and finished more than 30 seconds behind Charles Leclerc in the race. This marked the end of Hamilton’s remarkable 168-race streak of finishing within 30 seconds of his teammate. The 40-year-old’s contract with Ferrari is likely to be his final one in Formula 1, but if his struggles persist, he may be reluctant to extend his stay beyond 2026.
Former F1 driver Jaime Alguersuari has suggested that Lewis Hamilton could leave Ferrari in 2026, as the team is currently “not a winning team.” Guenther Steiner, the Haas F1 team principal, has also warned that Lewis Hamilton’s confidence could be severely impacted if the situation does not improve, calling it the “worst thing” besides his performance struggles. Given Lewis Hamilton’s visible frustration in Jeddah, it is evident that Ferrari has significant work to do before the upcoming Miami Grand Prix if they hope to keep their star driver content and competitive.
