Verstappen in Mercedes? During the last season, especially during the summer break, rumors relating to a possible move by Max Verstappen to Mercedes had intensified, despite the contract that binds the four-time world champion to the Milton Keynes team until 2028. The rumors were later denied by the Dutch driver, especially after some photos published by Autosprint which portrayed him in the company of Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff on the latter’s yacht in Sardinia. However, the Dutchman’s hypotheses at Brackley have not completely disappeared, even more so on the basis of what Red Bull’s performances could be in 2026, the year of great technical revolution in Formula 1. Precisely this season, the Anglo-Austrian company will begin a new collaboration with Ford for the power units, but in Verstappen’s contract there are exit clauses should the youngest winner in the history of a GP not be satisfied with the project. Ralf Schumacher’s ‘no’ At that point, the current #3 could move closer to Mercedes, but the person who doesn’t believe in a good relationship between the driver and Wolff is Ralf Schumacher, six-time winner in F1 and Michael’s brother. The German, in an interview with the Backstage Pit Lane podcast, explained why there won’t be a good feeling between the two: “I think it would only become a topic of discussion if, for any reason, the car stopped working – he declared – on the other hand, where are the real alternatives? I still can’t see Verstappen and Wolff really getting along. For some reason, they don’t really go together. A team like McLaren would obviously do everything for Verstappen if they had the chance and a seat available. The same goes for Aston Martin, but Red Bull is a home environment for him, and I have to say that at the end of last year Verstappen really feels like he has become one. That’s why I wouldn’t question it at the moment.
