The Red Bull driver has been linked with a shock move to Mercedes for the 2026 campaign.
A huge update on the future of Max Verstappen has been issued as the Red Bull driver has been linked with a move to Mercedes.
Verstappen, 27, has endured a tough 2025 F1 campaign and currently sits third behind the McLaren pairing of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the Drivers’ Standings.
And after almost a decade at Red Bull, the Dutchman could be set to move on. Verstappen has been heavily linked with a switch to Mercedes, as George Russell admitted that talks were taking place between the 27-year-old and the manufacturer.
“It’s only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing,” Russell told Sky Sports ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend.
“But from my side, if I’m performing as I’m doing, what have I got to be concerned about? There are two seats in every Formula 1 team.”
Meanwhile, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner also offered his thoughts.
“It is a lot of noise, and I think Max [Verstappen] gets quite annoyed by it,” Horner told Sky Sports.
“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.
“I can imagine George is frustrated that he hasn’t been given a contract yet, but that’s between him and his team.
“The situation with Max – we know clearly where we are at, as does Max. Everything is subject to noise and obviously within the contract remains confidential to the two parties.”
But the rumours, conversations and media hysteria will, no doubt, continue until an official decision has been made regarding Verstappen’s future.
Christian Horner has made his feelings clear (Credit:Getty)
And late on Tuesday evening (July 1), Sky Sport F1 Italy published an ominous tweet which read: “”ULTIM’ORA FORMULA 1. Mercedes, trattativa concreta con Max Verstappen. Olandese pronto a liberarsi per la prossima stagione.”
Translated to English, the tweet reads: “BREAKING NEWS FORMULA 1. Mercedes, concrete negotiations with Max Verstappen. Dutchman ready to free himself for next season.”
Fans were quick to give their thoughts in the comments section.
One said: “Red Bull without Max is just an energy drink.”
Another added: “Genuinely there is no way that Christian Horner can possibly keep his job if they fumble MAX VERSTAPPEN to his mortal enemy Toto Wolff.”
While a third commented: “Toto saw Red Bull crumbling and found the perfect opportunity to get max to Merc (after many failed attempts).”