Max Verstappen’s future has been the topic of heated conversation for well over 18 months now, dating back to his last Formula 1 world championship triumph in 2024.

The four-time world champion, the outstanding driver of his generation, officially has a £50m-a-year contract with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season.

However, the Dutchman is motivated by competitiveness. Red Bull have been unable to provide him with a top-tier car in the last two seasons, as illustrated by their constructors’ finishing spot: third last year and, at the 2026 summer break, fourth this year. As such, Verstappen is being linked with a move away.

There is other “silly season” speculation too: Carlos Sainz is understandably disappointed with Williams’ poor start to the season and is said to be looking elsewhere, while Fernando Alonso looks to be on the brink of retirement given Aston Martin’s torrid plight.

Here’s a round-up of the main F1 transfer stories

Will Max Verstappen leave Red Bull?

It is the million-dollar (or several million-dollar) question – and would have big ramifications for the rest of the grid.

Verstappen is yet to confirm his future will be at Red Bull in 2027 and, despite some post-race reactions to the contrary, the 28-year-old does look set to continue in the sport in spite of his protestations about this controversial generation of car.

The Dutchman has an exit clause in his contract allowing him to leave if he’s outside the top two in the drivers’ championship by the summer break – and he’s currently positioned a lowly sixth in the standings, 110 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

But where would he go? Naturally, runaway leaders Mercedes seem the most obvious destination, given team principal Toto Wolff’s previous flirtations with the Red Bull driver. Photos of Wolff holidaying with Verstappen and their families in Sardinia have only accentuated those rumours.

Yet Wolff has publicly stated how happy he is with his driver pairing. Antonelli, at 19, is the next big hotshot in the sport while Russell has publicly insisted he will still be with the team next year.

McLaren look to be the other viable option. Verstappen’s trusted race engineer Ginapiero Lambiase joins the papaya as head of racing, perhaps as early as next year, and talks took place with the Dutchman’s agent Raymond Vermeulen in June.

Yet the reigning world champions have struggled for consistency themselves this season, though they did earn a breakthrough win in Hungary through Lando Norris.

If Verstappen were to land a spot at the Woking-based squad, it seems highly likely that Oscar Piastri would be the one to make way… perhaps in a straight swap with Red Bull?

On the flip side, Verstappen has spoken in depth about his loyalty to Red Bull after more than 12 years in their programme. A year ago, he decided to stay put; he may well do the same this time around.

Carlos Sainz losing patience with Williams

Alongside Aston Martin, Williams have been the big let-down of 2026.

James Vowles spoke in depth in the past few years about all his focus being on this year’s car and, armed with the strongest engine (Mercedes), their chassis and reliability have been underwhelming.

After 11 rounds, Sainz has just six points to his name. And the Spaniard, who joined amid much hope of a Williams renaissance last year, is looking elsewhere.

He has been linked with a return to Alpine, having originally turned them down for Williams in the summer of 2024. Sainz drove for Renault for one solitary season in 2018.

The 31-year-old could also be a prime contender to swoop in if there’s a big shift (i.e. Verstappen) further up the grid, whether it be a return to Red Bull (where he started his career in 2015 with sister team Toro Rosso) or otherwise.

The knock-on impact of a Sainz departure would be big, too: it could mean Franco Colapinto returns to the team from Alpine. Again, a straight swap could materialise.

Will Fernando Alonso retire?

This question may well be the first we get answered after the summer break.

The 45-year-old acknowledged that he will spend his three-week holiday contemplating his future in the sport, after what has been a disastrous start to the season for Aston Martin and their new engine partner Honda.

It seems very unlikely that Alonso will switch teams for 2027. The question really is: does he have faith in Adrian Newey to turn the team’s form around for next year – and significantly enough that he can challenge right at the top?

The slowest team on the grid for much of the campaign so far, they have some way to go at this stage.