Grand Prix winner tipped to replace Verstappen if the Dutchman decides to leave Red Bull

Following the announcement of Gianpiero Lambiase's transfer to McLaren, another key figure is set to leave the Milton Keynes-based team. Red Bull's Head of Racing follows in the footsteps of Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay, while Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley previously left for other teams.

Four-time world champion Verstappen also faces an important decision about his future: whether to continue in the competition, something he hinted at during the Japanese Grand Prix.

GPblog is also receiving signals that his future with the Austrian outfit is becoming increasingly clear. Continuing at Red Bull Racing appears to be an option that clearly ranks below several other possibilities, this website understands.

According to the F1 TV analyst and former driver, Red Bull should try to bring in Charles Leclerc from Ferrari.

On the F1 Nation podcast, he explained: "If money is no object, probably Charles Leclerc. He’s been at Ferrari a long time, he’s supremely talented. If Ferrari can’t show this year that they can be capable of winning a title, I think he’s someone that can be tempted away.

"Would he be tempted enough to go to Red Bull? I still think there’s a title in him," the Brit concluded.

Ralf Schumacher has already warned the Monegasque driver about this possibility. Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, the former F1 driver believes it would be wiser for Leclerc to remain at Ferrari.

He explained: "I think now you have to say it very honestly, Red Bull in its current situation is not really an option. This is now a long-term project again. First of all the engine development, which they have actually done well."

The German added: "I don’t know whether it would make sense for Leclerc to leave a team that is now just starting to work. I also can’t imagine that Ferrari is really considering it. That would be quite unwise, because I think the Lewis Hamilton situation is foreseeable under normal conditions, also just because of his age."