Could Max Verstappen join Mercedes? The latest on F1's hottest transfer rumour

The talk in the world of Formula 1 has once again surrounded the idea that Max Verstappen could possibly make a move to Mercedes at the end of this season. 

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was the one to confirm that they considered Verstappen, telling his wife Susie in the Drive to Survive series that the four-time champion was “an option”.

Mercedes ‘senior’ driver George Russell gave those rumours surrounding Verstappen’s transfer new life after he told the media that talks to sign the Dutch-Belgian driver were “ongoing”. 

The fact that neither Russell nor Kimi Antonelli have a contract with Mercedes for next season gives the speculation some weight, as well as the evidently under-performing Red Bull car Verstappen was put in this season.

Verstappen is, however, locked into a contract with Red Bull spanning until 2028, but the contract also has a performance-related exit clause. It's understood that the clause could be triggered if Verstappen is outside the top four drivers on the F1 standings by the final round before the summer break.

Wolff, meanwhile, has not refuted claims that he may sign Verstappen for next season and has set a deadline of the pre-summer break to determine the team’s line-up for F1 in 2026. 

“The organisation, the drivers, everybody, you need to understand the way forward. And I don’t want to be sadistic in letting a driver wait, not taking any decisions when it should be taken.

“So I feel we’re in a good space in June. Obviously, there’s lots of discussions around, and I’ve been open with it and transparent and at a certain stage, in the next couple of months – until the summer break, we need to know. Until the summer break, everything is going to be done,” Wolff said.

Mercedes have enjoyed a few ups and some downs this season, with Russell taking his first win in Canada a few weeks ago and has managed to maintain consistent podium finishes prior to that win.

However, this was not enough for Wolff to extend the contract with the British driver, who currently has no car for next season. Antonelli, on the other hand, has proven himself as a vital asset for Wolff, capable of being a good second driver or maybe even lead them some day. 

But if Verstappen came in to sit alongside the Italian teenager, there’s no telling how the two could get on. Ironically, Antonelli crashed into the rear end of Verstappen's car this past Sunday at Spielberg, causing both drivers to retire early. 

But what shocked the crowd and commentators even more was how Verstappen reacted to Antonelli afterwards, keeping his cool and calling it a mistake. This is a complete U-turn from Verstappen’s usual outbursts, suggesting that there may be some level of respect shared between the racers.

What would make the move even more controversial, is the fact that there is a bit of bad blood between Verstappen and Russell. Besides the recent incident where Verstappen clearly got in the way of Russell and caused damage to both cars, the racers have never rarely seen eye to eye. 

On Drive to Survive, one of the episodes showed the drivers meeting up for a dinner. Some of the group thought it would be funny to seat Verstappen and Russell together, but when Russell arrived and saw the seating arrangement, he immediately moved his chair away from Verstappen.

Could you imagine what a punch in the gut it would be for Russell to be replaced by the man he cannot even fathom sitting next to?

Verstappen has kept the F1 world on tenterhooks about the move and has not yet confirmed his decision for next season.

“I determine my own future,” Verstappen said.

The paddock will unload at Silverstone this week for the British Grand Prix and Russell’s home race, where he will surely be looking to impress the boss. Verstappen is just nine points ahead of Russell in third place on the driver standings, having missed out in Austria.