F1
Max Verstappen ‘could join Alpine’ as key change tipped to spark blockbuster transfer
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes that Alpine could be a potential destination for Max Verstappen after securing Mercedes power units for the 2026 season. The Dutchman’s future at Red Bull has been questioned following a challenging start to the 2025 campaign.
Verstappen went into the season with aspirations of matching Michael Schumacher’s record of five straight Drivers’ Championship titles, but the 27-year-old is already eight points behind leader Lando Norris, and Red Bull are trending in the wrong direction. The Bahrain Grand Prix was a turning point in that journey. After winning in miraculous circumstances in Japan, Verstappen was only able to qualify seventh and improved marginally to sixth at the chequered flag following a last-lap pass on Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.
