Verstappen’s F1 future predicted: 'Max can only go to three teams'

Speaking to a betting site, the Italian-American explained that, in his view, Verstappen realistically only has three possible destinations should he decide to leave Red Bull in the future: Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes. He also questioned whether any seats are currently available at those teams, while suggesting the real dilemma would be whether they would ultimately be willing to reshuffle their existing line-ups in order to make room for a driver of Verstappen’s calibre.

While waiting to return to Formula 1 action with Red Bull in Canada next weekend, Max Verstappen is preparing for one of the biggest endurance events in the world as he gets ready to compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The Dutchman’s presence at the legendary Nordschleife has generated enormous interest among fans, with race director Walter Hornung admitting organisers have been overwhelmed by demand ahead of the event.

Speaking to Auto Motor und Sport, Hornung explained that the Nürburgring, local authorities and organisers have been working closely together to guarantee safety and proper crowd management throughout the weekend. Due to the exceptional demand surrounding Verstappen’s debut appearance, organisers have also been forced to introduce a ticket limit for the first time in the more than 50-year history of the Nürburgring 24 Hours: "We are working closely with the Nürburgring and the authorities to ensure an orderly and safe stay for all visitors. For the first time in more than 50-year history of the 24h Nürburgring, we had to limit the number of tickets."