Piero Ferrari’s long-term admiration for Max Verstappen could shape Ferrari’s future driver plans

Piero Ferrari, vice-chairman of Ferrari and son of founder Enzo Ferrari, has revealed that his admiration for Max Verstappen stretches back nearly a decade, intensifying speculation about the Dutchman’s long-term Formula 1 future. As the 2026 F1 season approaches and uncertainty surrounds the competitive order, Ferrari’s interest in elite talent such as Max Verstappen is once again under the spotlight.

Max Verstappen’s position at Red Bull Racing remains strong on paper, yet the dynamics of the Formula 1 driver market suggest that no top team can afford to ignore opportunities. While Max Verstappen has publicly reaffirmed his commitment to Red Bull in recent months, Formula 1 history shows that performance cycles shift quickly — and Ferrari, as one of the sport’s most iconic constructors, is always attentive to potential openings at the very top of the grid.

Ferrari’s strategic driver outlook amid Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc uncertainty

Ferrari’s medium-term driver strategy is naturally influenced by the trajectories of both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton is entering the closing phase of his legendary Formula 1 career, even though his motivation and competitive spirit remain unquestioned. At the same time, Charles Leclerc has consistently demonstrated elite-level speed, yet he has also been candid in previous seasons about Ferrari’s struggles to consistently deliver a genuine championship-winning package.

Should Ferrari face a pivotal transition period in the coming years, the availability of a proven multiple world champion such as Max Verstappen would inevitably become a key consideration. In this context, Piero Ferrari’s long-standing appreciation of Max Verstappen’s talent could carry significant weight in any high-level strategic discussion within Maranello.

Piero Ferrari’s admiration dates back to the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix

In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, Piero Ferrari reflected on how his father, Enzo Ferrari, might have viewed Max Verstappen’s driving style. He suggested that Enzo Ferrari would likely have admired Max Verstappen’s extraordinary ability to extract the maximum performance from a car and consistently operate at the limit.

Piero Ferrari also explained that he had been present at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, where Max Verstappen secured his first Formula 1 victory on his Red Bull debut. From that moment onward, Piero Ferrari indicated that he had followed Max Verstappen’s career particularly closely.

The significance of that Barcelona weekend cannot be overstated in modern Formula 1 history. Promoted to Red Bull Racing after replacing Daniil Kvyat, Max Verstappen capitalised on the dramatic first-lap collision between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to claim a sensational maiden win. In doing so, he became the youngest race winner in Formula 1 history — a record that still stands today. That performance not only confirmed Christian Horner’s faith in the young driver but also signalled the arrival of a generational talent.

Could Ferrari realistically attract Max Verstappen?

From a purely sporting perspective, Ferrari continues to place strong belief in Charles Leclerc’s long-term potential. Internally, the Scuderia sees Charles Leclerc as a driver capable of matching any rival on raw speed and technical feedback. However, Formula 1 is ultimately judged on championships, and Ferrari has not yet consistently provided Charles Leclerc with machinery capable of sustaining a full title challenge across an entire season.

If Red Bull were to experience a dip in competitiveness under the 2026 regulations, speculation around Max Verstappen’s future would intensify immediately. However, Ferrari’s own recent performance record could represent a barrier. Convincing a driver of Max Verstappen’s calibre to leave a stable environment would require not only financial strength but also a credible technical project capable of delivering sustained championship success.

The 2026 regulations and Enzo Ferrari’s “more honest” cars

Max Verstappen has not hidden his reservations about the 2026 generation of Formula 1 cars, famously comparing them to “Formula E on steroids” due to the increased emphasis on hybrid energy management. Drivers are now required to carefully balance battery harvesting and deployment throughout each lap, and there is ongoing debate about whether some qualifying laps may involve partial throttle management to optimise energy usage.

When asked about these criticisms, Piero Ferrari acknowledged that the new cars demand a deeper understanding of energy deployment and race management. However, he suggested that they appear more predictable than the previous ground-effect era and speculated that Enzo Ferrari might have described them as “more honest” machines. In his view, the spectacle of Formula 1 would not suffer under the new technical framework and could potentially even benefit from the added strategic complexity.

The Australian Grand Prix is expected to provide the first real test of how these 2026 cars perform over a full race distance. With fewer heavy braking zones than Bahrain, Albert Park places greater emphasis on efficient energy recovery and intelligent battery deployment — areas that could amplify the strengths of drivers such as Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

While there is no indication of an imminent move, Piero Ferrari’s decade-long attention to Max Verstappen highlights a broader truth about Formula 1’s elite market: top teams constantly evaluate top drivers. In a sport defined by marginal gains and strategic timing, admiration today can become negotiation tomorrow.