What are the Potential Consequences for the Drivers Market of Max Intentionally Engineering His Exit from Red Bull, at the end of 2025?

Scenario: Max has finished below P3 in the 2025, Driver Championship and actively triggered his exit from Red Bull.

The reality is that the consequence and outcome for other drivers, of Max leaving Red Bull, will be secondary and wholly dependent on which team Max lines up for the 2026 season.

For a number of reasons, Mercedes is the most obvious destination for Max’s talents. Toto, the Mercedes team principal has openly expressed his long-time admiration for Max. In addition, a conspicuous gap seems to have been created in Mercede’s 2026 driver lineup by Toto’s rumoured deliberate holding off on confirming George’s contract extension, until Max’s intentions become clear. From Max’s perspective, Mercedes have, a seat, the ambition and most importantly, the budget. After years of bitter rivalry between Mercedes and Red Bull, Toto’s potential success in landing Max would be considered to be more than just a transfer and most likely give Toto sadistic pleasure of pulling one over his bête noire, Christian.  It would in fact be a seismic moment. A clear statement of intent of Marcedes’ ambition to win the 2026 Drivers and Constructors Championship.

Aston Martin’s strategy appears to be to lie low but still sees them emerging as a serious dark horse due to recent bold strategic moves on their part. They will team up with Honda in 2026 for the supply of engines. Adrian Newey, former Red Bull Chief Technology Officer, is stepping in as Managing Technical Partner. This together with Aston Martin team principal Lawrence Stroll’s relentless push to turn the team into a championship contender, means the pieces are falling into place for a massive recruitment coup, in the event Aston Martin sign Max, putting them on the launch pad for potential success in the F1 2026 Drivers and Constructors Championship. A Max move to Aston Martin might sound far-fetched and a mere game of what ifs, until you recognise that all of Max’s past major career decisions have been rooted in a long-term vision which in this case would most closely align with that of the Aston Martin team.

In the pecking order for Max’s signature, Audi-Sauber are way behind in the shadows of both Mercedes and Aston Martin. Their 2026 project is no secret, but needs the driving skills of the likes of Max to be successful. Whilst Max moving to Audi-Sauber would be shocking, it wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility. Having said that stranger things have known to happen in F1, the 2012 move by Hamilton from Mclaren to Mercedes being a prime example.

Could this all be wild speculation? Of course, why would there even be any doubt? After all, F1 is a sport filled with rumours, whispers, mind games, and overreactions. It’s a sport where the drama off-track can be just as equally if not more explosive and engrossing as what happens on the track itself.

If Max really is playing the long game, letting results slip just enough to unlock a contractual escape door, then every race from now until Abu Dhabi becomes nothing more than a procession for McLaren’s anointment as Drivers and Constructors Champions for 2025 with the battle for points limited between Oscar and Lando.

So, what do you think? Is Max waving his conductor’s wand behind the scenes, making F1 dance to his tune whilst preparing for a dramatic shift or is this just a mid-season slump being blown out of proportion?

Whatever the answer, one thing is certain, the story of Max’s 2025 season is far from over, in fact one could say it has only just begun!!

Will Max finish the season higher than P4?

• Yes
• No

Which team will Max drive for 2026?

• Red Bull
• Mercedes
• Aston Martin
• Other