Bernie Ecclestone says Max Verstappen should've left Red Bull Racing to Ferrari

Ecclestone was present at the Austrian Grand Prix when Verstappen took an upgraded Red Bull RB22 to the second step on the podium on a weekend when speculation about the Dutchman's future went into overdrive with links to McLaren.

Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull Racing until the end of the 2028 F1 season but has a performance-related exit clause, and while he and his management are adamant their loyalty remains with the team, they insisted a competitive car remains key to the Dutchman's future decisions.

McLaren's CEO Zak Brown downplayed the Verstappen rumors that were caused by the announcement that Gianpiero Lambiase will join McLaren when his contract ends with Red Bull Racing after serving as Race Engineer for years for the four-time F1 Champion.

Previous rumors linked Verstappen to Mercedes, especially in 2025 when Red Bull were in turmoil due to a bad-performing car and the firing of then-boss, Christian Horner.

But the move to Mercedes did not happen, with Toto Wolff recently claiming his driver lineup will not change in 2027.

As it stands now, Verstappen has no viable option should he decide a change in scenery is needed, a fact Ecclestone acknowledged when discussing the Red Bull ace's future.

He said: "If I had a team now, the first thing I'd like to do is [bring] Max onboard at whatever cost.

"Because it's cheaper than me trying to improve the car," he added, referring to Verstappen's talent, which flatters subpar F1 cars.

Ecclestone also admitted there is no easy decision the Verstappen can make right now; he said: “You mean now?

"I think you have to weigh up all these things. If he stays, it's really difficult; if he goes, where does he go?

“I would have advised him last year to go to Ferrari," the 95-year-old Briton concluded.