There’s a lot of talk in Formula 1 about whether Max Verstappen will leave Red Bull and join Mercedes in 2026.
Although the 2025 racing season is underway, people are already speculating about driver changes in anticipation of the significant rule changes set to take effect in 2026. The biggest question is if Verstappen, who has won the championship four times, will switch to Mercedes.
Why are people talking about this? Well, Mercedes might have an open spot for a driver in 2026. They want an excellent driver to lead their team with the new rules. Red Bull has been performing exceptionally well, but significant changes are expected to the cars in 2026, and their top designer, Adrian Newey, has left. This raises questions about whether Red Bull will remain as competitive and whether Verstappen might consider joining a different team.
What Verstappen Says About The Rumours?
When people ask Verstappen if he’s going to Mercedes, he stays pretty calm. He recently said at Silverstone that he has “nothing to add” about the rumors. He also pointed out that he’s already a four-time champion, so the idea that “the grass is always greener” somewhere else doesn’t really apply to him.
But Verstappen did say that Red Bull’s performance in 2025 “is not what we wanted as a team.” He said he’s trying to help Red Bull improve now, but when he talks about wanting to be in the “fastest car” in the future, he doesn’t completely rule out leaving. So, it sounds like he’s keeping his options open.
What the Boss of Mercedes Says
Toto Wolff, who runs the Mercedes team, has always said he thinks Verstappen is a great driver. He hasn’t said that Mercedes offered Verstappen a spot, but he did say that “conversations” are happening with the people who manage Verstappen. This makes it seem like Mercedes is seriously thinking about getting him.
A little while ago, Wolff also talked about how top athletes sometimes feel like “the world is against them.” He wasn’t talking directly about Verstappen, but it could mean that he understands that Verstappen might be a bit frustrated if Red Bull isn’t winning as much in the future.
What the Boss of Red Bull Says
Christian Horner, who is in charge of Red Bull, says the Mercedes rumors are just “a lot of noise.” He reminded everyone that Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until 2028. “We are very clear with the contract we have with Max until 2028. Anything is entirely speculative that has been said. We tend to not pay too much attention to it,” said Horner.
He also thinks Verstappen is “quite annoyed” by all the talk and just wants to focus on racing. Horner seems sure that Verstappen will stay with Red Bull.
What a Current Mercedes Driver Says
George Russell drives for Mercedes right now. He recently stated that he believes Mercedes is taking so long to offer him a new contract because they are trying to sign Verstappen. Horner even commented on this, saying, “I can imagine George is frustrated that he hasn’t been given a contract yet, but that’s between him and his team.” This suggests that Mercedes is very interested in Verstappen, which could impact their current drivers.
