Max Verstappen responded to reports linking him to a potential Mercedes F1 move as speculation continues to swirl in the lead-up to the Formula 1 British Grand Prix.
The four-time world champion who has been a central figure at Red Bull Racing since his sensational debut win for the team in 2016, now finds himself at the heart of the sport’s most compelling transfer saga.
With his current contract tying him to Red Bull until the end of 2028, rumors about Verstappen’s future have intensified, fueled by both on-track struggles for Red Bull and off-track maneuvering by Mercedes and its principal Toto Wolff.
The British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone has become a focal point for these discussions, with Verstappen facing a barrage of questions from the media regarding his intentions for 2026 F1 and beyond.
Despite the mounting speculation, the Red Bull star has remained characteristically composed and guarded. When pressed about the Mercedes rumors, Max Verstappen responded succinctly: “I have nothing to add. What I said last week. Other people write stuff, that’s great but it’s not for me.”
Mercedes’ interest in Verstappen is hardly surprising. The team has been searching for a marquee signing to fill the void left by Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari, and Verstappen’s record speaks for itself.
Since 2021, the Dutchman has won four consecutive drivers’ titles and claimed victory in 47 of the last 70 races, cementing his status as the most dominant driver of his generation.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has openly acknowledged holding discussions with Verstappen, setting a summer break deadline to finalize the team’s 2026 F1 driver lineup.
The situation is complicated by the presence of George Russell whose contract is up for renewal, and Kimi Antonelli, the highly rated rookie seen as the team’s future.
Signing Max Verstappen would force Mercedes to make a difficult choice between their established star and their long-term prospect.
While Verstappen has expressed frustration with Red Bull’s recent performance—citing balance issues and a lack of competitiveness that has seen the team slip to fourth in the Constructors’ Championship—he has stopped short of committing to a Mercedes F1 move.
In the aftermath of a disappointing Austrian Grand Prix where he was eliminated on the first lap after a collision with Antonelli, Verstappen made it clear that his future would be determined by Red Bull’s ability to deliver results in the coming races.
“I think that’s a story in life because you can always see the grass is always greener on the other side, that’s what they say, right?” Verstappen said on Thursday at Silverstone.
“I think you always have to just stay calm and enjoy also what you are doing because, I think up until now, I’ve had a lot of success.
“This season is maybe not what we want as a team, but that can happen as well. Sometimes you just have to try to accept that as well.
“Then of course other people make up more stories, but that’s not for me. I know what I have, I know what I can do, and that’s fine.”
The prospect of switching teams in 2026 when new technical regulations are set to shake up the competitive order adds another layer of complexity which Verstappen himself acknowledged.
He added: “That is anyway difficult in Formula 1 to always try to be in the fastest car because then you have to look into the future. Who would have known that two years ago this would be the case now?
“That is also something that I don’t really spend a lot of focus on. I think the only focus that I have at the moment is just trying to improve the situation.
“We are not where we want to be, I think that’s quite clear but at the same time next year a lot can change again. So even if you try to chase the fastest car now, it might not be the fastest car next year.
“That’s exactly what F1 is about. Sometimes you luck in, you win three-four-five-six-seven-eight titles, who knows? That’s also part of the game.”
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