Ralf Schumacher names the F1 team chief who will now to ‘anything’ to sign Max Verstappen from Red Bull

Red Bull Racing face a ticking time bomb to fix this year’s car, or the consequences could stretch beyond missing out on the constructors’ championship.

No team wants to have to make a driver swap this early in the season, but that’s what Red Bull were forced to do just two races in.

Liam Lawson was jettisoned for Yuki Tsunoda ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, returning to the Racing Bulls team to race alongside Isack Hadjar.

While all of this has been going on, Max Verstappen has been trying to grind out as many points as possible for the team, and even pulled off a remarkable victory at Suzuka in a car that is clearly inferior to McLaren’s MCL39.

Verstappen wasn’t impressed with Red Bull swapping his teammate so early in the season, but not because of his personal feelings towards Lawson or Tsunoda.

Unsurprisingly, the most talented driver on the grid potentially being available in the driver’s market has turned a few heads.

Ralf Schumacher has listed some of the options available to him, and named one Formula 1 chief that he thinks will try and move heaven and earth to sign the four-time world champion.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Ralf Schumacher says Flavio Briatore will do ‘anything’ to sign Max Verstappen for Alpine

Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse Podcast, Schumacher was once again discussing Verstappen’s future.

Schumacher has discussed the problems with Verstappen joining Aston Martin in the past, and exploring his options going into 2026, he said: “I suspect that it basically doesn’t matter where [he wants to go], there would be a place for Max Verstappen.

“I think that everyone would vacate it, because this year it became clear again what a difference he makes.

“Which means that it could be at Mercedes, but in my opinion, I think it could also be at McLaren. I think Zak Brown is also there because everyone in the driver market is interested, and who we have completely forgotten and who also plays a role, is Alpine.

“That’s because Flavio Briatore has the Mercedes engine in the car next year, and the car that Gasly had at the weekend can’t be that bad.

“Imagine if there were 30 horsepower more in it. Gasly was very fast with the car, so I wouldn’t completely ignore that alongside Aston Martin.

“So, in my opinion, there are four teams that are interested in Max Verstappen.”

Asked to elaborate on Alpine’s position in the market, Schumacher continued: “Well, Gasly was so strong!

“Just think about it, and if they could get Max Verstappen, I think [Luca] De Meo and Flavio would do anything for him.

“Of course, we mustn’t forget Jos Verstappen didn’t have a very good experience a few years ago driving for Flavio Briatore!

“I think he would have to pay extra for that, but it’s not completely out of the question.”

READ MORE: Who is Alpine’s F1 executive adviser Flavio Briatore? Everything to know

Signing Max Verstappen solves all of Flavio Briatore’s driver problems at Alpine

One of the other stories that has been rumbling on behind the scenes in the paddock this season is the future of Alpine driver Jack Doohan.

Doohan’s Alpine seat has been guaranteed until the summer, although Flavio Briatore might not have necessarily made that decision if it was purely down to him.

Franco Colapinto is waiting in the wings to make his return to the grid, but if Verstappen suddenly becomes available, then Briatore will immediately switch his focus to the Dutchman.

The Italian has made brutal driver changes before, just ask Roberto Moreno about Michael Schumacher’s arrival at Benetton.

Briatore went all out to sign Carlos Sainz when he arrived at Alpine, but it was too late to hijack his move to Williams. If that situation plays out again with Verstappen, he won’t want to miss out on his number one target twice.