Max Verstappen ‘shadow’ hanging over Mercedes with

Max Verstappen ‘shadow’ hanging over Mercedes with Brixworth data… Read More 👇

Mercedes’ pursuit of Max Verstappen continues to loom over the team, with team principal Toto Wolff reportedly refusing to rule out the possibility of signing the Red Bull star for the 2025 Formula 1 season. This persistent speculation, fueled by F1 press conference host Tom Clarkson, suggests that while Verstappen is expected to stay with Red Bull for 2025, his long-term future might still be up for grabs, particularly with the upcoming F1 rule changes in 2026.

The uncertainty surrounding Mercedes’ driver lineup for the future has been a hot topic in F1 circles, especially after Lewis Hamilton announced his move to Ferrari for 2025. This has left a significant gap in the Mercedes team, with George Russell’s new teammate yet to be confirmed. The highly-rated Andrea Kimi Antonelli is considered a frontrunner to replace Hamilton, with an official announcement expected during the Italian Grand Prix later this month.

However, the prospect of Verstappen joining Mercedes has not faded, despite his current contract with Red Bull running until 2028. Clarkson believes that Wolff is still holding out hope of signing the three-time World Champion, despite the outward signs that Verstappen will remain with Red Bull.

“There is still the shadow of Max Verstappen [over Mercedes],” Clarkson said on the F1 Nation podcast. “I think Toto Wolff still hasn’t completely given up on the thought of having Verstappen in one of his cars next year, but all the messaging we’re getting from Red Bull – and actually from Max – is that Max will be at Red Bull for 2025. And who are we to question what Max is saying if that’s what he’s saying publicly?”

The potential for Verstappen to compare the technical capabilities of Red Bull and Mercedes before making a decision about his future is a key factor in this ongoing saga. With F1’s major rule changes set to take effect in 2026, teams are already preparing for the new era, and Mercedes’ advanced work on their 2026 engine could be a significant lure for Verstappen.

“He’ll see what Red Bull Powertrains are doing with their power unit this time next year,” Clarkson continued. “He’ll then go and see what Mercedes High Performance [Powertrains] are doing in Brixworth with theirs, and he’ll have the numbers in front of him to be able to make the right call for 2026.”

Clarkson’s co-host, 1996 World Champion Damon Hill, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that while Verstappen is likely to stay with Red Bull for 2025, his options for 2026 are wide open.

“I think he’ll be [at Red Bull] for ’25,” Hill said. “But I think he can then wait and see more clearly. I think ’26 is definitely up for grabs.”

Red Bull, however, remains confident in their ability to retain Verstappen and continue their dominance into the new F1 era. Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan has expressed his optimism about the team’s in-house Powertrains division, which is set to produce its first engine for the 2026 season. Monaghan believes that the collaboration between Red Bull’s chassis and powertrain teams will yield an engine that is as good, if not better, than their current Honda-supplied unit.

“The work I have seen between the Red Bull chassis side and the Red Bull Powertrain side is as good, if not stronger, than I’ve seen with any of our power unit suppliers,” Monaghan said in an interview with PlanetF1.com. “We’re very indebted and very grateful to Honda for everything they’ve done with us, but now we are all under one umbrella, I think the opportunity to be better merged with the power unit is one that we can’t forget or give up or deny ourselves. If we want to be as strong as we can be in ’26, we have to make that project work.”

Despite this confidence, Mercedes is not the only team reportedly interested in Verstappen. Former Red Bull driver and current Dutch television pundit Robert Doornbos has suggested that Aston Martin is also a serious contender in the race for Verstappen’s signature. The team, under the leadership of Lawrence Stroll, has been aggressively building a winning operation, with plans to sign F1 design guru Adrian Newey from Red Bull as a significant boost to their efforts.

Doornbos believes that Aston Martin’s ambition and financial resources could make them a formidable competitor for Mercedes in the battle for Verstappen.

“Max Verstappen’s relationship with Mercedes remains strong,” Doornbos wrote on his LinkedIn profile. “Mercedes has an open seat for 2025, and it’s likely that during the Monza weekend they’ll announce that Kimi Antonelli will get the chance to debut in Formula 1 alongside George Russell. I still believe Max will join Mercedes in 2026, although Aston Martin will do everything to sway him, sparing no expense.”

Aston Martin’s exclusive engine deal with Honda for 2026 positions them as a factory team, and Stroll’s substantial investment in the team’s development underscores their determination to become title contenders. With two-time Champion Fernando Alonso already in their lineup and the prospect of Verstappen joining, Aston Martin is clearly aiming for the top.

“Led by Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin has been aggressively pushing to become title contenders within five years,” Doornbos added. “Now in their third year, they must make significant strides in the next two. Their exclusive engine deal with Honda in 2026 positions them as a factory team, and Stroll is investing a billion dollars to achieve his championship dream.”

As the F1 world looks ahead to the seismic changes coming in 2026, the decisions made by drivers like Verstappen will shape the sport’s future. Whether he stays with Red Bull, moves to Mercedes, or even considers Aston Martin, Verstappen’s choice will undoubtedly be one of the most pivotal in the sport’s recent history.