Is Ferrari being left behind in Formula 1’s driver market battle?

Ferrari risks becoming the last option in Formula 1’s 2027 driver market

Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri are currently the two biggest names dominating discussions surrounding the future Formula 1 driver market for 2027. Both drivers have repeatedly been linked with Ferrari in recent months, but the reality inside the paddock may be very different from the rumours circulating publicly.

Although Ferrari initially appeared to make a promising start under the new 2026 regulations, race after race the weaknesses of the Maranello-based team’s Power Unit are becoming increasingly visible.

From a chassis and aerodynamic perspective, Ferrari still appears to operate at a very high level. However, modern Formula 1 requires a complete package to consistently fight for victories, and at the moment Ferrari looks far from possessing that overall balance.

Ferrari falling behind while rivals continue improving

At the Miami Grand Prix, after the long April break, McLaren demonstrated major progress and confirmed itself as Mercedes’ strongest challenger.

Meanwhile, Red Bull also responded impressively. According to several reports, the new Power Unit developed together with Ford is already operating just behind Mercedes in terms of performance, with Red Bull’s remaining gap appearing more related to chassis and aerodynamic efficiency.

Ferrari, on the other hand, may have slipped as far down as fourth-fastest on the Formula 1 grid following the Miami weekend, a development already shifting the conversation in the expert betting picks and predictions for F1 heading into the summer break.

This situation could create enormous problems not only for Ferrari’s championship ambitions during the remainder of the season, but also for the team’s attractiveness in the future driver market if these performance levels are confirmed again in Canada and throughout the following races.

Why Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri may look elsewhere first

Max Verstappen’s priority remains extremely simple: winning.

For that reason, it appears difficult to imagine the Dutch champion leaving Red Bull only to join a Ferrari project that could potentially be beaten consistently by his current team over the coming seasons.

The same logic also applies to Oscar Piastri, although the Australian’s situation may be slightly different.

At the moment, Oscar Piastri is driving the only car genuinely capable of challenging Mercedes on a regular basis. If the McLaren driver eventually decides he wants a new challenge, the logical move would likely involve joining an even stronger project.

However, Mercedes currently appears unlikely to consider changing its driver line-up during the season.

That scenario has naturally fuelled one of the most talked-about theories currently circulating inside the paddock: a possible Max Verstappen–Oscar Piastri swap between Red Bull and McLaren.

According to several reports, former Formula 1 driver Mark Webber — who also manages Oscar Piastri’s career — may already be working quietly behind the scenes on potential discussions.

Ferrari currently appears to be the final option among top teams

Within this scenario, Ferrari risks becoming the final alternative rather than the first destination for Formula 1’s biggest stars.

Among the leading teams expected to dominate the 2026 summer driver market, Ferrari currently appears to hold the weakest position.

In practice, the Maranello team could become an option considered by Max Verstappen or Oscar Piastri only if negotiations with Red Bull and McLaren respectively fail to materialise.

For Ferrari, that represents a dangerous and unfamiliar position.

Historically, the Italian team has often been viewed as the ultimate dream destination for Formula 1 drivers. But modern Formula 1 has become increasingly driven by technical confidence, long-term project stability and immediate competitiveness.

And unless Ferrari rapidly resolves the concerns surrounding its Power Unit performance, the Scuderia may find itself struggling not only on track, but also in convincing the sport’s biggest stars that Maranello remains the place where championships can truly be won.

The current shift in the driver market hierarchy highlights the brutal reality of Formula 1: historical prestige is no match for technical performance. As Mercedes and McLaren solidify their positions at the front of the pack, Ferrari’s struggle to extract maximum performance from its 2026-spec power unit has turned a dream destination into a strategic risk for elite drivers. If the rumored negotiations between Mark Webber and the top two teams reach a conclusion, Maranello may find itself forced to look toward the midfield for its next era, rather than picking from the world champions and rising stars it traditionally attracts.

How do you think Ferrari should pivot its technical development to regain the trust of the grid’s top-tier drivers before the summer break? Let us know with a comment at the end of the article or on our social media channels: Facebook Group / Facebook Page / X (former Twitter), TikTok and Youtube.