F1 journalist Rachel Brookes just threw out one of the most jaw-dropping driver market predictions we've heard in ages, and honestly, it's got us thinking. With the 2026 season on its summer break, the silly season is in full swing, and Brookes reckons we're about to see some absolutely massive moves. She's predicting that George Russell will leave Mercedes for McLaren, Max Verstappen will swap to Mercedes, and Oscar Piastri will land at Red Bull. Yeah, you read that right.

More F1 news: Red Bull's Winless Streak: How Max Verstappen Salvaged Hungary's Hidden Victory

Here's where it gets interesting. Russell's got what he claims is a contract for 2027, but Brookes thinks Mercedes could void the deal if the British driver doesn't outperform rookie Kimi Antonelli this season. Toto Wolff has been openly chasing Max Verstappen for ages, and even though the Mercedes boss has downplayed those rumors recently, the speculation won't go away. Brookes reckons Russell will be the one heading for the exit, with Verstappen taking his seat alongside Antonelli at the Silver Arrows.

Meanwhile, McLaren gets a completely British lineup pairing Lando Norris with Russell. Piastri's been linked with Red Bull for a while now amid reports of tension between him and McLaren, so Brookes thinks he'll slot into Verstappen's seat at Milton Keynes. It's wild because it essentially means the current McLaren duo would split up, with Piastri heading to Red Bull while Russell joins Norris at Woking.

More F1 news: Red Bull's Crash Bill Threatens Their Budget Battle

Beyond the big three predictions, Brookes also threw out some other driver market guesses for good measure. She reckons Fernando Alonso will jump from Aston Martin to Alpine, Carlos Sainz heads to Audi, and Franco Colapinto returns to Williams. It's all speculation at this point, obviously, but with Mercedes only confirming Antonelli and Russell for 2026, there's definitely room for drama to unfold over the next few months.

More F1 news: Norris' Devastating Pace Exposed Piastri's 2026 Struggle at Hungary

The whole driver market situation is absolutely bonkers right now. Verstappen's free to move since he's not in Red Bull's top two in the championship, and his management has already been chatting with other teams around the paddock. Whether the Dutchman stays put, switches teams, or even considers stepping away entirely over the new regulations is still very much up in the air. Brookes' predictions might sound mad, but stranger things have definitely happened in F1.

Shop the collection: Max Verstappen merch  •  Lando Norris merch  •  Oscar Piastri merch  •  George Russell merch  •  Kimi Antonelli merch  •  Fernando Alonso merch  •  Carlos Sainz merch  •  McLaren merch  •  Red Bull Racing merch  •  Mercedes-AMG merch  •  Aston Martin merch  •  Williams Racing merch  •  Audi merch