The former driver’s hypothesis
Max Verstappen at the end of the disappointing Japanese Grand Prix did not completely close the door to the hypothesis of retirement – perhaps temporary – from F1 in light of a discipline that no longer entertains him. The four-time world champion will be able to exit the contract that binds him to Red Bull by exploiting the clause that will free him in the summer if he is not first or second in the Drivers’ World Championship, a rather remote hypothesis in light of the current ‘competitiveness’ of the Red Bull RB22.
Across the Channel, Verstappen has already been given ‘out’ – by his own choice of course – from the 2027 starting grid and according to Johnny Herbert McLaren has all the right cards to offer the Dutchman everything he ‘needs’, namely a WEC program for 2027 and an F1 seat in 2028 just when Gianpiero Lambiase’s adventure as Chief Racing Officer at McLaren can also begin.
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“It is positive to see F1 drivers racing in other categories, Alonso was a new ‘pioneer’ in this sense – the words of Herbert reached by Vision4Sport – Verstappen could consider the hypothesis of racing in the WEC in 2027 with McLaren which has a Hypercar program, maybe even just the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Then in 2028 he could return to race in F1 with the goal of bringing McLaren back to prominence.”
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