The F1 driver market is an absolute mess right now, and the latest updates are only making things more chaotic. With 14 seats still up for grabs on the 2027 grid, the rumor mill is spinning faster than ever.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has reportedly been warned about the risks of jumping ship to McLaren. Former team boss Guenther Steiner pointed out that while McLaren is flying high as a Mercedes customer, they don’t have their own engine. Red Bull, on the other hand, now controls its own destiny with a Ford partnership.
Steiner explained that this gives Red Bull a major edge, and he’s not even sure a move to McLaren is a real possibility.
Over at Audi, young star Gabriel Bortoleto is pushing back hard against those persistent Carlos Sainz rumors. The 21-year-old Brazilian insists he has a long-term deal with the German team and will be there in 2027 and beyond. He says the project is locked in until 2030, and there are no secret clauses that could push him out.
F1 itself just dropped a bombshell grid update, showing only eight drivers as “100 percent confirmed” for 2027. That leaves a staggering 14 seats open. Even Verstappen is listed as confirmed at Red Bull, but everyone knows his exit clause makes that anything but certain.
Both Mercedes seats are also still listed as TBC, making them a prime landing spot if Verstappen decides to leave.
In other news, Red Bull may have stopped the bleeding on their talent drain. According to Spanish reports, chief engineer Paul Monaghan, who was reportedly headed to Cadillac, has been convinced to stay after a strong counteroffer from the team. That’s a huge win for Red Bull as they try to hold their team together.
So with so many seats still open and big names like Verstappen dangling, what’s the one move that could shake up everything?
