Max Verstappen’s current tenure with Red Bull, secured through 2028, has suddenly become the centrepiece of F1 transfer chatter — as rumours swirl about an elite move to Mercedes for the 2026 season.
According to The Guardian, the initiative reportedly came from Verstappen’s camp, with discussions now in “advanced talks” with Mercedes. Sky Italy suggests a deal is edging closer, although the Mercedes board has yet to formalise its stance.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff remains cautiously optimistic, confirming the team is “exploring what a four‑time world champion is going to do in the future.” He added that decisions on driver line‑ups would crystallise by the summer break in early August.
George Russell, who doesn’t yet have a contract for 2026, admitted, “As Mercedes, they want to be back on top… so conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing.” His lingering uncertainty underscores the seriousness of the speculation.
Red Bull’s Christian Horner denounced the talk as “a lot of noise,” emphasising that Verstappen is firmly contracted until 2028. Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko noted that any exit clause was contingent on performance metrics and currently, “there is absolutely no reason that this contract won’t be fulfilled.”
That said, Verstappen’s contract reportedly includes a clause allowing a departure if he sits outside the top three in the Drivers’ Championship by the summer break following the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 3. As of now, he is third — narrowly ahead of Russell, who trails by nine points.
A compelling force behind Mercedes’ interest lies in the 2026 regulatory overhaul. While Red Bull will debut its own power units, Mercedes is widely tipped to dominate the new era — a scenario reminiscent of Lewis Hamilton’s 2012 move from McLaren to Mercedes on the eve of the 2014 hybrid era.
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F1 luminaries like Jenson Button have enthused that Verstappen is “probably the best racing driver that’s ever raced in a Formula 1 car,” adding that “everyone wants him,” but cautioned that choosing the right team under new regulations will be crucial.
Even McLaren CEO Zak Brown anticipates a Mercedes switch — albeit perhaps only by 2027 — highlighting that the unfolding uncertainty is central to F1’s intrigue.
Verstappen himself, pragmatic and reserved, recently stated, “I determine my own future,” declining to confirm reports.
With the British Grand Prix around the corner, all eyes are on Silverstone — not just for pace and podiums, but perhaps for whispers of a deal in the making. Verstappen’s next few races, and Mercedes’ internal deliberations, will set the stage for what could be F1’s most seismic driver transfer in a generation, after Hamilton’s transfer from Mercedes to Ferrari.
