Max Verstappen open to Mercedes switch as talks with Red Bull driver intensify, report Sky in Italy | F1 News

Max Verstappen is open to leaving Red Bull to join Mercedes for the Formula 1,2026 season with talks intensifying before the British Grand Prix of this weekend, according to Heaven in Italy.

Speculations on the future of Verstappen gathered at the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend when George Russell said Sky Sports F1 that he did not receive a new Mercedes contract beyond 2025 due to the team which has “conversations in progress” with Verstappen.

Mercedes team director Toto Wolff confirmed that there were “camera conversations”, and now, Heaven in Italy Report that the talks intensified, Verstappen ready to free themselves from his current Red Bull contract which takes place until 2028.

The report indicates that the Mercedes Board of Directors is not sure to know if the signature of Verstapun is necessary, since they may have the car to beat following the introduction of new regulations in 2026, and would therefore not need the driver who is largely considered to be the best of the grid.

Sky Sports News Understands Verstappen did not indicate that he wanted to leave Red Bull early, and there was no official approach to Mercedes for the defending world champion of the F1.

But Verstappen has a clause in his contract which will allow him to leave Red Bull after this season in the scenario that he is not in the top four of the pilot championship at the start of the F1 summer break, which follows the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 3.

Verstappen is currently third in the classification, nine points ahead of Russell and 36 points ahead of Charles Leclerc de Ferrari with three laps until the summer break. A maximum of 83 points can be won over these three events, Belgium being a Sprint weekend.

Sky Sports News Also includes a huge sum of money would be required to buy Verstappen on his current Red Bull contract, potentially greater than 100 million pounds sterling.

Russell and his teenager Italian teammate Kimi Antonelli have no offers for Mercedes next year, but it is largely assumed that it would be the Briton to make the place if Verstappen makes the change.

In the event that Russell was to be released by Mercedes, Heaven in Italy said Red Bull and Aston Martin would be the most likely landing points for the 27 -year -old.

An F1 initiate challenged the accuracy of how the report suggests that Mercedes manages driver contracts.

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What did Wolff and Horner say?

Speaking after the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, where Verstappen retired after being struck by Antonelli in the first round, Wolff said that a decision concerning the Mercedes range of pilots for next year would take place in August.

“You must be respectable towards stakeholders in this whole process – organization, drivers, everyone,” Wolff said on the calendar of a decision.

“You must understand the way to follow. I don’t want to be sadistic by letting a driver wait or not make decisions when it should be taken.

“I think we are in a good space, we are [in] June, there are a lot of discussions around.

“I was opened with, transparent. And at a certain stadium, in the coming months, until the summer break, everything will be done.”

Verstappen signed a Red Bull contract until 2028 in 2022, but always said that he did not want to run in F1 at the end of the thirties, with eyes on other categories and motorsport events, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The 27 -year -old won a fourth title of successive pilot in 2024, but there have been speculation about his future Red Bull in the middle of several off -track problems in the team, including a quarrel between his father Jos Verstappen and the director of the Christian Horner team.

Speculations returned earlier this year, apparently due to the lack of performance by Red Bull against McLaren, and Verstappen cannot fight for a fifth consecutive and equal title.

Asked in Austria about Russell’s comments and Wolff, Horner rejected speculations around Verstappen as “noise”.

“I think Max is quite annoyed. We are very clear with the contract we have with Max until 2028,” he said Sky Sports F1 in Austria.

“So everything is completely speculative that is said, but we tend not to pay too much attention to it.”

When asked if Mercedes tried to destabilize Red Bull during their home race, Horner added: “I can imagine that George is frustrated, he has not yet received a contract, but it is between him and his team.

“The situation with Max, we clearly know where we are and obviously, just like Max. Everything is subject to noise and, obviously, in any contract, it remains confidential between the parties.”

What do Brundle and Chandhok think?

Martin Brundle of Sky Sports F1:

“I think George Russell is nervous and sounds a little. There is no smoke without fire.

“2026 is the biggest F1 change for the chassis and the electrical unit. Mercedes will be there or also.

“Can Max really get out of his contract? Something is happening.”

Karun Chandhok of Sky Sports F1:

“We do not know what are the thresholds in terms of being able to get out of the Red Bull contract, but if you were Max Verstappen, you would watch the performance of the best teams next year, then choose where you want to go to the future.

The next stage of the Formula 1 season in 2025 is the big, the British Grand Prix in Silverstone – Live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Showcase with coverage from Thursday to Sunday at 3 p.m. Stream Sky Sports with now – no contract, cancel at any time.