F1
Max Verstappen is reportedly close to joining Mercedes
Photo Xavi Bonilla / DPPI
Is an incredible earthquake about to redraw the 2026 grid of the Formula 1 ? For several months, there have been rumors of a strong interest from Mercedes for Max VerstappenAccording to Sky Sports F1 Italy, the championship's official broadcaster on the other side of the Alps, the matter is now much more than just speculation.
In a message published Tuesday evening on X (formerly Twitter), the transalpine media outlet mentioned a "trattativa concreta" (concrete negotiation) between the Dutch driver and Mercedes. This Wednesday morning, Sky Sports went even further on its website: "Max Verstappen is about to join Mercedes", can be read in their article.
Verstappen reportedly said yes to Toto Wolff
Although he is under contract until 2028 with Red Bull, Max Verstappen would be able to activate an exit clause in his contract for 2026. One would be valid if he finds himself outside the top three at some point during the summer, the other if Red Bull is outside the top three in the Constructors' Championship. If Verstappen is still third in the championship after his retirement in Austria, the team based in Milton Keynes currently ranks fourth behind Mercedes. And with a second driver (Yuki tsunoda) in decline, reversing the trend currently seems like an impossible mission.
Still according to Sky Sports, the four-time world champion himself would have accepted the offer made by Toto wolff, the boss of the German team. The last obstacle to this major transfer would be the final approval of the Mercedes board of directors, which has not yet validated the arrival of the Dutchman.
The German manufacturer also believes it will be able to field the best car on the grid in 2026, regardless of its driver lineup. A rational argument, but one that is difficult to oppose to the opportunity to enlist the third most successful driver in the history of the discipline (65 victories).
George Russell at Red Bull?
If this move goes through, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes' two current drivers, would find themselves in a difficult situation. Although the Briton is in talks for a contract extension, it seems he is the most threatened. A scenario in which he would make the opposite route to Red Bull to succeed Verstappen could therefore arise. Aston Martin, for its part, would also remain in ambush.
ALSO READ > Verstappen in the hunt, Russell on standby: what is Toto Wolff up to?
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Valentin GLO
Journalist. Endurance reporter (WEC, IMSA, ELMS, ALMS) and sometimes F1 or IndyCar.
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vincent moyet
02/07/2025 at 08:11 a.m.
I can't make it "respond" either. Yes, Antonelli would have unintentionally "helped" (can we imagine that he would have been asked to ram Verstappen??) to activate an exit clause. In any case, I was really surprised that Verstappen seemed so calm and not angry at all... And then the delay in Russell's contract, it doesn't smell good...
Yves-Henri RANDIER
02/07/2025 at 09:16 a.m.
Hit Verstappen? Toto adopting the methods of his gangster friend Brille A Tort, I'm not a conspiracy theorist!
DANIEL MEYERS
02/07/2025 at 06:28 a.m.
This site is really badly done, it has not been possible for weeks to 'respond' but also to make corrections! And so; Max did not even have to pretend, Anto. is responsible (I did not say and do not think it, intentionally) for taking him out of the race!!
DANIEL MEYERS
02/07/2025 at 06:23 a.m.
@vincent moyet: More prosaically, Max was (still is) under threat of a GP suspension, that's calming, even Max! But, it's also true that the less he performed in Austria, the more he gave himself the possibility of activating a contract termination clause (several?).
Patrick
02/07/2025 at 04:15 a.m.
Wow! MV to the violant! The star will shine on the first steps of the podium!!!
CHRISTOPHE
02/07/2025 at 04:08 a.m.
Dad Jos withdrew his entry to the Rome rally immediately, a sign??
vincent moyet
02/07/2025 at 12:58 a.m.
Indeed, Verstappen's attitude towards Antonelli was at the very least suspicious, in any case very unusual and not that of a driver who has just been deprived of all chance of winning the championship by a small rookie.
Alain Féguenne (Luxembourg)
02/07/2025 at 12:00 a.m.
It's not a surprise, but I think it's a mistake, the way …….. is Ferrari…!!!!!! We'll see …….!!!! 😎👀👍
eric stevens
02/07/2025 at 11:22 a.m.
It would be logical (even if I had bet on Aston) everyone wants a Mercedes on their ass! Red Bull, (with Ford powertrain my c..) will certainly be nowhere, Honda the same, and that's why he won't join Newey, Ferrari is locked and will certainly not be at the top. Russell is in the s..!
Lucas Paul
02/07/2025 at 11:18 a.m.
The current queen in ALL sports? These are speculative fantasies, without any real information from ANY media! The worst are the Italians...
Aurlien
02/07/2025 at 11:16 a.m.
Oh yeah, Yves Henri, for you it's a lie? Well then how do you explain Max's comments, I can't say more? Generally, you have negotiations in progress with another team.
Yves-Henri RANDIER
02/07/2025 at 10:32 a.m.
Rumor spread by the same Italian media that announced the imminent departure of Frédéric Vasseur ... who unfortunately lost his mother! Italian media = Always shit in / Always shit out!
Little Pimousse
02/07/2025 at 10:30 a.m.
Even if it doesn't seem to be a done deal yet, seen from this angle, it does indeed explain Verstappen's composure after being harpooned by Antonelli! It seemed strange to me that he remained so calm!!!
Aurlien
02/07/2025 at 10:16 a.m.
Wait, that's why he didn't accuse Antonelli! He knew deep down that he would be Kimi Antonelli's teammate.
vincent moyet
02/07/2025 at 10:07 a.m.
The outlook is bleak at RBR: Newey's departure, a Ford engine in its infancy, and a chassis that's already falling short. But Russell is far from having failed, and if the future Mercedes is the car to beat, he'd be a contender for the title. Why then would anyone want to recruit a diva like Verstappen? Alonso is often mocked for turning good cars into calves, but what has Verstappen done since 2023 if not the same thing? And no other driver can drive the car, which immediately condemns the team to the constructors' title. Is this really the best outlook for Mercedes?