The future of Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing is going to have a huge impact on many of his colleagues on the Formula 1 grid.
The three-time world champion has a contract at Red Bull that runs until the end of the 2028 F1 season, but whether he’ll see it out is yet to be seen.
Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, commentator Harry Benjamin believes Max Verstappen will leave the team that has helped him reach the pinnacle of motorsport.
Mercedes are the team that want to hire Verstappen the most on the grid as they seek a Lewis Hamilton replacement.
Toto Wolff is trying to do the impossible and bring someone in to follow one of the greatest drivers in the sport’s history, although Verstappen is the best candidate on the grid to do that.
Benjamin believes Verstappen will go and that leaves a spot in Red Bull’s line-up and he thinks Carlos Sainz is the man to replace him.
The three-time race winner has been brilliant this season despite losing his Ferrari seat and appears to be holding off signing for a new team in the hope that he could join the current Constructors’ champions.
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Harry Benjamin thinks Max Verstappen will go and be replaced by Carlos Sainz at Red Bull
The 2024 Formula 1 driver’s market is in a precarious place right now with several moves already confirmed for next year.
Fernando Alonso was assessing his options before committing his future to Aston Martin, while further down the grid Nico Hulkenberg will be heading to Sauber next year.
Carlos Sainz is the only driver who knows for sure that he won’t be retained by his current team, meaning he needs to find a new seat for 2025.
Audi – currently Sauber – want Sainz to partner Hulkenberg but the Spaniard is in no rush to do a deal with the German manufacturer.
That’s because he’s seen the internal unrest at Red Bull that might suddenly offer him an opportunity to return to the group after making his F1 debut with Toro Rosso.
Sergio Perez’s contract ends after the season finale in Abu Dhabi and while he’s looked good this year, he’s not blown anyone away.
However, the speculation about whether Verstappen could go at the conclusion of the campaign is giving Sainz some hope that he could be driving a championship-winning car in 2025.
Adrian Newey’s departure is a blow for Red Bull and while Verstappen is a big believer in his potential replacement Pierre Wache, he and Helmut Marko have a way out of the team before the end of his current deal should he wish to take on a new challenge.
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Red Bull F1 driver line-up in a precarious position
Talking about Verstappen’s future, Benjamin said: “Well, before the news of Adrian Newey came through leaving Red Bull, I wasn’t sold on [Max] Verstappen leaving that team.
“I am a little bit more sold on that now and I can see [Carlos] Sainz being the replacement at Red Bull for Max Verstappen.
“Sauber/Audi will be the natural back-up and I can’t see where else. I think Sainz is holding out to see what Red Bull do.
“We know he’s got an offer on the table from Audi, they’ll snap him up no matter what.
“But if he can get that Red Bull seat, I think Sainz would rather replace Verstappen than maybe go alongside him and I think Verstappen will go and I think Sainz will be the guy to replace him.
“I’m increasingly of that opinion [that Verstappen] will leave.”
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If Verstappen does go, it’s hard to see him leaving before 2026 given he’s still in pole position to win at least two more championships which would be bad news for Sainz.
The Spaniard might have to push for a one-year deal with Mercedes if he’s given guarantees that he could join Red Bull in 2026 if that’s when Verstappen decides to leave.
That may suit Toto Wolff as he prepares youngster Kimi Antonelli for the step up to Formula 1.
There are so many moving parts in the driver market at this stage that it’s nearly impossible to know exactly how the grid will look next year.
But one thing is clear, Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz will be on the grid next year, it’s just knowing exactly where they’ll be.
The post ‘I think Verstappen will go’: Sky Sports pundit makes bold F1 driver call, backs 3-time winner to replace him appeared first on F1 Oversteer.