Max Verstappen reportedly in advanced talks with Mercedes over blockbuster move

The Guardian

13 hours ago

Max Verstappen's future with Red Bull is under scrutiny with reports that talks about a move to Mercedes have intensified in the buildup to this weekend's British Grand Prix.
Speculation over Verstappen jumping ship had dominated the Austrian Grand Prix, where the Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, confirmed they were considering a move to tempt the four-time champion to join the team.
It is understood it was the Verstappen camp that made the move to contact Mercedes and that Wolff, understandably, was willing to meet and talk to consider the defending world champion's future.
On Wednesday Sky Italy reported that conversations had intensified and that Verstappen was 'close' to agreeing a deal, but the Mercedes board had yet to make a decision.
Those claims have not been substantiated. Mercedes and Red Bull have not commented on the reports and there has still been no indication from Verstappen that he wants to leave Red Bull.
Last year, Wolff had made it clear he would consider Verstappen a prime asset to bring to Mercedes but with Verstappen then publicly committing to Red Bull, Mercedes announced they had selected Kimi Antonelli to join George Russell for 2025. Neither driver has a contract confirmed for next year and in Austria Wolff acknowledged he was interested in Verstappen. 'As a team principal responsible for the best car brand in the world it is clear you're exploring what a four-time world champion is going to do in the future,' he said.
Russell said at that point he knew negotiations were taking place. 'It's only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing.'
The Dutchman remains under contract to Red Bull until 2028 and their team principal, Christian Horner, has dismissed the speculation about his driver's future as 'a lot of noise'.
Still, exit clauses within Verstappen's contract would allow him to leave, although the details remain unconfirmed. It is understood that one clause would give him the option to do so if he were below a specific place – considered likely to be below second or third – by the summer break, which is after the Hungarian GP on 3 August.
The Red Bull motorsport adviser, Helmut Marko, said Verstappen was still well within the parameters of his opt-out clause. 'Like all top drivers, there are performance-based exit clauses but as things currently stand there is absolutely no reason that this contract won't be fulfilled,' he said.
Verstappen stands third but after his first-lap crash at the Austrian GP is only nine points in front of Russell, whose place is most likely to be sacrificed should Verstappen make the switch.
Central to any decision is thought to be the major regulation changes set for next season, when new power units will be introduced. It is believed Mercedes are the frontrunners in this respect, while Red Bull will be manufacturing their own power units for the first time. Without track time, joining Mercedes would remain something of a leap of faith.
Mercedes tempted Lewis Hamilton away from McLaren in 2012, with the team's confidence at the rule change of the forthcoming new engine regulations of 2014 considered to be key in persuading him to make the move. Hamilton went on to take six world championships with Mercedes, who won eight consecutive drivers' titles.