Max Verstappen Reportedly in Mercedes F1 Contract Talks, Open to Red Bull Exit

Reigning four-time Formula One champion Max Verstappen is reportedly considering changing teams for the 2026 season.

According to Sky Sports, Verstappen is "open" to making the move from Red Bull Racing to Mercedes, and talks are "intensifying" ahead of the British Grand Prix this weekend.

The revelation followed Mercedes driver George Russell telling Sky Sports last week that his contract with Mercedes has not been extended beyond the 2025 season yet due to Verstappen having "ongoing conversations" with the team.

While Mercedes team owner Toto Wolff confirmed to Sky Sports that there have been "conversations behind closed doors," Verstappen joining Mercedes appears far from imminent.

For starters, Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull through 2028, and a lot would have to happen for him to get out of that deal.

There is reportedly a clause in Verstappen's contract that allows him to leave Red Bull after this season if he is outside the top four in the F1 standings by the summer break in August.

While Verstappen is an uncharacteristic third behind Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, he still leads the fourth-place Russell by nine points and the fifth-place Charles Leclerc by 36 points.

Failing that clause coming into play, Verstappen would have to be bought out of his Red Bull contract at a sum that could exceed £100 million, per Sky Sports.

There is reportedly some thought within Mercedes that signing the best driver in F1 may not be necessary due to the belief that new regulations being introduced in 2026 will make Mercedes the team to beat regardless.

It was also reported by Sky Sports that Verstappen has not made a request to get out of his Red Bull contract early.

While there is still plenty of season left, Verstappen has been nowhere near as dominant as usual with just two wins compared to five for Piastri and three for Norris.

Verstappen won 10 races in a row in 2023, and from the end of 2023 into the early part of the 2024 season, he won another nine consecutive races.

Although he has usually been in the mix this season with eight finishes of fourth or better, Verstappen came in 10th in the Spanish Grand Prix a few weeks ago, and he did not finish last week's Austrian Grand Prix due to a collision.

The adversity he has faced in 2025 could conceivably be playing a role in Verstappen exploring other options. But given the success he has had at Red Bull, it is very much within the realm of possibility that he could turn things around and remain with the team for the long haul.