Button urges Verstappen to be ‘selfish’ as Red Bull future questions intensify

Button says Verstappen must put himself first

Jenson Button believes Max Verstappen has reached a point in his Formula 1 career where sentiment cannot drive the decision over his future. The 2009 F1 champion says Verstappen must be ‘selfish’ as speculation continues around whether he will remain with Red Bull beyond the current uncertainty.

Mercedes has previously been heavily linked with Verstappen, while more recent rumours have raised the prospect of a shock McLaren move alongside Lando Norris. McLaren, however, is understood to still view Oscar Piastri as part of its plans for the ‘foreseeable future’, even if such a dramatic scenario has not been completely dismissed. For more on that developing McLaren angle, see our report on Oscar Piastri’s future and Verstappen swap speculation.

Frustration follows British GP retirement

Verstappen’s frustration with the Red Bull car was clear after his retirement from the British Grand Prix last weekend. Button argues that, in that context, it would be entirely normal for Verstappen’s management to explore the wider market.

“If his management weren't asking around, they're not doing their job properly,” Button told Sky F1. “They should be asking around.”

Button identified McLaren and Mercedes as the two obvious teams Verstappen would be interested in, while stressing that contracts do not necessarily prevent major driver moves.

“All drivers have contracts, but money talks. There's always a way of moving a driver on to somewhere else,” he said.

A changing Red Bull landscape

The wider Red Bull picture has only added to the sense of uncertainty. The team has undergone several significant exits in recent years, including Christian Horner, Adrian Newey and Helmut Marko. Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is also set to depart in 2028 and join McLaren, adding another layer to the speculation.

Button suggested those changes may have altered the internal environment around Verstappen.

“A lot of people that he's worked with for many years and won championships with have left and gone elsewhere,” Button said. “It must be very strange, it must feel kind of a bit lonely within that team for him.”

In Button’s view, Mercedes would be the destination to target if he were advising Verstappen, whether alongside Kimi Antonelli or George Russell. His conclusion was blunt: Verstappen is far enough into his career that his next move must be made with maximum self-interest.