Current Mercedes driver George Russell sparked the Verstappen to Mercedes rumour mill back into life when he claimed that “ongoing” talks between team and driver were influencing his path to a new Mercedes contract, with neither Wolff nor Verstappen shutting down the suggestion.

The potential arrival of Max Verstappen to Mercedes for the 2026 season could significantly impact the current driver lineup of the German team. Both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli face an uncertain future,

Zak Brown recently sung Max Verstappen's praises. The CEO of McLaren said the idea of Verstappen in a Mercedes in '26 is 'quite frightening'. Does the American have a point? By now, everyone knows that Max Verstappen is thinking about his future: will he stay with Red Bull Racing in 2026,