A sabbatical, or retirement from F1, is speculated for Verstappen.

      "It has all become too foolish and over-regulated for him."

      Aside from Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Red Bull, another serious option is beginning to surface for Max Verstappen.

      F1 fans and insiders observed that the four-time world champion appeared particularly angry and frustrated after the Saudi Arabian GP, where he declined to interact with the media regarding his controversial penalty related to the first-corner incident with Oscar Piastri.

      Even before that moment in Jeddah, he was annoyed by the ongoing speculation about his possible exit from Red Bull at the end of the season.

      "I think you should concentrate on commentating," the Dutch driver told British commentator David Croft, "I’ll handle the driving, that way you won’t have to consider any other scenarios."

      Croft later remarked to The Times that he has a "really good relationship" with Verstappen, having "never argued about anything."

      He also mentioned that many of Verstappen’s fans had "attacked" him on social media. "I will be present at the next press conference," Croft promised. "It won’t deter me from asking the question."

      In addition to his conflicts with the FIA and media, there’s also the question of whether Red Bull can recover from its recent political and performance issues, which have led to the departure of several key personnel.

      "In my view, Pierre Wache is definitely not Adrian Newey," former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher told Sky Deutschland.

      He attributes blame to Christian Horner, who is still dealing with internal leadership tensions and an employee scandal. "He built the entire team," Schumacher stated, "and along with Dr. (Helmut) Marko, he’s accountable for what transpired.

      "He (Horner) should have anticipated this. Losing Adrian Newey should never have happened."

      The two main contenders looking to acquire a dissatisfied Verstappen for 2026 appear to be Mercedes and Aston Martin.

      "Mercedes is performing exceptionally," former Racing Bulls head and current part-time Red Bull consultant, Franz Tost, told Germany’s Sport1.

      "However, George Russell is currently excelling, so ultimately it will be up to Toto Wolff to make the decision. Personally, I believe Aston Martin is the favorite," Tost added. "I see it as the team of the future."

      Former F1 driver Timo Glock, however, has a different perspective—he theorizes that Verstappen may take a sabbatical next year for a break, to witness the initiation of the radical new regulations, and to spend time with his first child, whose arrival is imminent.

      Glock also suggests that the 27-year-old might consider retiring from F1.

      "It’s possible that he could say it has all become too foolish and overly regulated for him," said the former Toyota driver.

      "Perhaps he’ll return at some point, but Verstappen must be taken seriously when he continues to express that he would retire if he faced such excessive punishment again."