The future of Max Verstappen remains a topic of discussion in Formula 1. Although the Dutchman has a contract until the end of 2028, he is increasingly being linked with a move to Mercedes. Verstappen himself wants to look to 2026 later.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff hinted in Spielberg on Friday that he is in talks with Verstappen. These are exploratory talks, but still. The Austrian feels that he can secure Verstappen. Current Mercedes driver George Russell also knows this. He is in the waiting room at Mercedes until Verstappen makes a definitive choice for next year.
“As a team boss who has the responsibility to ensure that you put together the best team in the world, it is logical that you inquire what a four-time world champion is going to do in the future,” Wolff told Sky Sports. “That can also be further away in the future.”
Shortly before that, Wolff had already made his interest in Verstappen known at a press conference. That was striking, as he had said after the arrival of Kimi Antonelli that he would no longer “flirt” with Verstappen. “But explain to me what flirting is,” he said with a laugh. “No, nothing has changed since then. You can flirt with someone, but you can also have conversations with someone.”
Russell understands the fact that Mercedes is talking to Verstappen. “Toto has made it clear to me that I have performed at the top of my game. In terms of performance, maybe one driver is better. Those are his words, not mine. But there are only two seats per team and he has to figure out who will fill those seats.”
Verstappen doesn’t want to say where he’ll be driving next year
Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull expires at the end of 2028. But Red Bull team boss Christian Horner already said last year that he will not hold the Dutchman to his contract if he actually wants to leave.
Verstappen was also asked about his future plans in Spielberg on Thursday. Remarkably, he did not want to answer the question of whether he will definitely drive for Red Bull next year. “I have been asked that question many times in my life,” said the four-time world champion.
“I don’t think we need to talk about that. I got that question here last year too. I wouldn’t even know what I answered then, but I would say the same now. I’m not concerned with it either. I’m trying to drive well and focus on next year later.”
Verstappen usually keeps a low profile about his future. Only last year during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix did he tie his fate to Helmut Marko, who was about to be fired at the time. It didn’t come to that. Partly due to Verstappen, Marko stayed on, and Verstappen in turn remained loyal to Red Bull.
Verstappen is dissatisfied with Red Bull’s performance
Much has changed since then. Although things are now calmer at Red Bull in terms of management, Verstappen’s team has not had the fastest car for a long time. In fact, Red Bull is fourth in the constructors’ championship. Verstappen scored 155 of the total 162 points for his team.
It causes dissatisfaction with Verstappen. Prior to the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, he said that the next four races would be crucial not only for his season, but also for his future.
Verstappen finished those races in first, tenth, fourth and second place respectively. “Do I think we have made progress in that period?” Verstappen repeated during a press moment with Dutch journalists on Thursday.
“Just look at the results. Then I think you know enough. In Canada, for example, we finished second, but we were number five in terms of speed. We only had everything right in terms of strategy and it helped us that it is difficult to overtake there. But if you look purely at the speed, we were fifth.”
‘Want to focus on the steps we can still take first’
And it is now clear that Verstappen is not doing it for fifth place in terms of speed. But still: moving to Mercedes is also a gamble in a sense. Especially because there will be a new regulation next year, which could completely change all the relationships.
“I want to focus on the steps we can still take first,” Verstappen continued about a possible departure. “Next year is also a question mark. This season has no influence on that.”
Verstappen points to previous regulation changes. “First Mercedes had it very well organized. That was very difficult for us to turn around at the time. In the last year we finally came close, but then there was another regulation with a new fastest team. That was Red Bull. Meanwhile, McLaren has caught up with that again, and Mercedes was never the fastest team except for a few races. But next year that could be completely different again.”
Whatever Verstappen decides, it is a choice that will not only shape his own career, but can also change the Formula 1 landscape for years. And for the time being, he is holding those cards close to his chest.