Max Verstappen opened up on the rumors of his contact with Mercedes, revealing that “no decision” has been made at the moment. He also mentioned that he does not usually talk about his contract.
Although the Dutchman has a contract with Red Bull Racing till the 2028 season, he was recently linked with Mercedes. RBR has been underperforming this season, currently standing in fourth place in the championship. Moreover, over 90% of those points were scored by Verstappen.
A disappointing race in Austria earlier speculated that Max Verstappen’s exit clause with the team was now open. This was soon followed up by a report from Sky Italia stating Mercedes was in contact with Verstappen. This meant that the team could sign him for the 2026 season, making it a major move. However, nothing has been confirmed as of yet. On Thursday, as drivers headed for the British Grand Prix, reporters surrounded Verstappen.
He told the media that there was “no decision” made on any contract.
“I do not talk about my contract. No decision has been made at the moment,” he told the media. “For me it is not about 2026 or anything. I just concentrate on what is coming and the cooperation with the team. Of course, many people come with assumptions. That certainly does not come from me.”
He also mentioned that “they” (Mercedes) might not be comfortable in 2026.
“As I said last week, that’s all I can say about it. I don’t think anyone can say with 100 percent certainty that they’ll will feel completely comfortable next year. There are so many unknowns for next year anyway. The only thing I can do is drive as fast as I can with what I have.”
Why Mercedes should not sign Max Verstappen
Although it sounds quite flavorful, it would be in the best interest of the team if they did not sign Max Verstappen for 2026. There are a couple of reasons for this. Mercedes currently has quite a strong lineup. George Russell has consistently delivered strong performances since his signing in the 2022 season. His teammate, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, has already proven himself with multiple strong performances. He is the youngest driver on the grid but has outperformed all other rookies.
Moreover, the new engine and aero regulations will make it a blank canvas for teams. For someone like Verstappen, who has driven Red Bull cars for close to a decade, it would be quite hard to adapt. Furthermore, the team wouldn’t want to spend their resources in the first year on building a car that is more comfortable for the Dutchman to drive.
These are some of the reasons why the Brackley-based outfit is best sticking with its current driver lineup next year.
