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These are the options for Red Bull Racing if Verstappen leaves the team
There is a chance that Max Verstappen will leave Red Bull Racing at the end of 2024. It would be a big blow for the Austrian racing stable, but with the driver market completely open, there are plenty of other drivers available. Which driver is somewhat close to Verstappen and would fit in Red Bull's picture best? GPblog lists them for you.
Alexander Albon may be the best candidate to succeed Verstappen at Red Bull Racing. Verstappen is thinking of leaving the team if Helmut Marko leaves the team and/or Christian Horner stays on as team principal. The latter seems to be the case, given that Red Bull Racing's team principal has the full backing of the Thai shareholder.
With that Thai link, a return of Albon would make sense. Albon has also developed tremendously after being shown the door by the top team. At Williams, Albon has emerged as a leader and is making good strides in his development. Albon himself is also keen to get back to the top. Preferably with Williams, but Albon is certainly not closing the door on other teams.
James Vowles was adamant that Albon still has a contract until 2025 at Williams, but it very much looks like Albon does have some clauses to leave. On the Beyond the Grid podcast, Albon reiterated that he also has other options for 2025. Red Bull seems to be the best bet for him.
If Horner stays on as team principal, the arrival of Daniel Ricciardo is also an option. The Australian has a very good relationship with Horner and largely owes his return to F1 to him. Ricciardo is keen to finish his F1 career at Red Bull Racing and Horner would love to see him return to his team.
However, there is one problem and that is Ricciardo's performance. Since his return to Red Bull Racing's sister team, the Australian has not exactly made a good impression. At Visa Cash App RB, Yuki Tsunoda is currently the faster of the two drivers. This, of course, does Ricciardo's chances for 2025 no favours.
Fernando Alonso
At the start of 2025, Fernando Alonso will be 43 years old. Alonso has yet to answer the question for himself, whether he wants to continue in Formula 1, but if he does, is he an option for Red Bull Racing? Alonso is still one of the best drivers on the grid and a big name that Horner could bring in. Alonso probably wouldn't say 'no' to the best car on the grid, but there seem to be better/younger options for Red Bull.
Carlos Sainz is mainly linked to Audi's project, but what if he could return to Red Bull Racing as the new front-runner? Sainz has the age and the experience but does he really have the speed? Is the Spaniard fast enough to help a team to the world title? After all, Sainz loses the duel to Charles Leclerc every year.
Lando Norris/Oscar Piastri
The problem for Red Bull Racing is that the biggest names are already signed for 2025. That includes the McLaren duo, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Two drivers who would not be out of place as Red Bull Racing's front-runners, but both just put their signature on new contracts. If there were a clause in there to allow them to leave, Horner should definitely knock on the duo's door. What could help get Piastri to Red Bull is that Horner still knows his manager very well. That would be Mark Webber.
Who will replace Verstappen in 2025?
If, and this remains a big if, Max Verstappen decides to leave Red Bull Racing, there are a number of options available to replace him. It goes without saying that any replacement would be a step backwards for Red Bull. The team had at their disposal the best driver in Formula 1 in recent years and you don't replace that for a moment.
The most obvious replacement for Verstappen is Alexander Albon. With his Thai nationality, his ambitions to return to the top and obvious clauses in his contract, he is the most logical candidate.
If Red Bull Racing doubts Albon is strong enough to lead a team of that calibre, it could look at Fernando Alonso, but fair's fair: he is on his way back. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri would not look out of place as new figureheads either, but for now it does not look like the two could get out of their contracts. The question with those two is also whether they would perform significantly better than Albon.
