Last Updated on July 25 2025, 8:20 am
As the 2025 Formula 1 season barrels toward its summer break, the paddock’s favourite parlour game remains in full swing: who will Max Verstappen race for in 2026? The four-time World Champion has been surrounded by swirling speculation for months following the ousting of his long-time ally Christian Horner from Red Bull. And while Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has played down expectations of landing the Dutchman, it seems not everyone at Brackley shares his sentiment.
In fact, reports now suggest that Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius is far more eager to pull out the corporate chequebook and bring Verstappen into the fold—potentially creating a not-so-subtle power struggle within the team’s hierarchy.
Wolff downplays, but the boardroom stirs
Speaking ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Wolff maintained his usual poker face when discussing Mercedes’ 2026 driver line-up. “I don’t think there will be any big surprises,” he told Austrian broadcaster ORF, suggesting that George Russell and Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli are the likely candidates to drive the all-new 2026 car.
But one floor above Toto’s command centre, the view appears to be dramatically different. Japanese outlet Autosport Web claims that Ola Källenius is actively pressuring Wolff to pursue Verstappen more aggressively. The CEO, reportedly unimpressed with recent results, believes that hiring the best driver in Formula 1 should be a non-negotiable priority for a brand with Mercedes’ pedigree. In Källenius’ eyes, this is less a strategic chess match and more of a corporate no-brainer: want to win? Get Max.
Verstappen’s future: a tug of war in Brackley?
While Wolff’s comments suggest contentment with Russell and a long-term plan to develop Antonelli, his lack of urgency has raised eyebrows. Mercedes, once the dominant force in F1, has been stuck in a performance plateau since the dawn of the ground effect era. A Verstappen-sized injection of talent might be just the adrenaline shot needed to leapfrog McLaren and Ferrari in the new regulation cycle beginning in 2026.
Of course, if Källenius is indeed flexing his executive muscles, it would mark a rare public moment of divergence between Mercedes’ boardroom and the team’s operational leadership. While Wolff is a part-owner and still one of the most powerful figures in the sport, Källenius ultimately has the keys to the bank vault.
Russell in limbo: contract games or strategic stalling?
The Verstappen intrigue may also explain another oddity: the conspicuous lack of a contract extension for George Russell. The Briton’s current deal expires at the end of this season, and while whispers in the paddock earlier this year suggested a new contract was already agreed, the silence since has been deafening.
According to Autosport Web, negotiations between Russell and Mercedes have hit a sticky patch. The driver is reportedly demanding a three-year contract, while the team is only prepared to offer a single-year extension. That alone hints at possible contingency planning—keeping one seat warm in case Verstappen suddenly decides he fancies a change of scenery.
But the disagreements don’t end there. Russell is also said to be seeking a considerable pay rise, reflective of his growing experience and leadership role within the team. Mercedes, apparently, is only offering a modest bump in salary. That gulf in expectations is yet another piece in a puzzle that increasingly points toward hesitation from the team’s side.
Alpine quit developing their 2026 car
Antonelli’s role complicates everything
Then there’s the Antonelli factor. Mercedes have invested heavily in the Italian teenager, grooming him as the next homegrown star. The 18-year-old is tipped to be fast-tracked into a full-time seat by 2026 at the latest, and some insiders even expect an earlier debut depending on how the second half of 2025 unfolds.
But with Antonelli expected to take one seat, and Verstappen potentially earmarked for the other, Russell might find himself out in the cold—or at best, on a rolling contract with no guarantee of long-term stability.
Is Mercedes stalling on purpose?
The entire saga reeks of corporate ambiguity. If Mercedes were fully committed to Russell, they’d surely have tied him down by now. The fact they haven’t suggests they are either unsure of his ceiling, hedging their bets with Antonelli, or—most explosively—keeping the door open for Verstappen.
And if the latter is true, it lends weight to the theory that Wolff is under internal pressure to make a move he may not be entirely comfortable with. After all, Verstappen’s arrival would reshape the entire team dynamic. While Toto has a strong relationship with the Verstappen family, bringing in a driver of Max’s stature would also mean ceding control over areas Wolff usually keeps a tight grip on—such as driver influence over car development, race strategy, and even staffing.
Can Mercedes afford not to chase Max?
From a pure performance standpoint, Verstappen’s stats are terrifying. He has won 60 Grands Prix, dominated three full seasons, and is widely considered one of the greatest drivers of the modern era. With McLaren charging forward, Ferrari resurgent, and Red Bull wobbling under new leadership, this may be the narrow window Mercedes needs to poach the jewel in Red Bull’s crown.
But the price—both literal and political—will be high. Verstappen does not come cheap, nor quietly. He brings expectations, leverage, and, usually, victory. And in a tightly controlled structure like Mercedes, that might be as much a threat as an asset.
A rift or a reset?
If the reports are accurate, and Källenius is indeed leaning on Wolff to act decisively, then Mercedes may be entering uncharted waters. The team has long prided itself on harmony between its racing and corporate divisions, but this Verstappen saga could reveal a crack in the once-monolithic Silver Arrows empire.
Perhaps, for the first time since the start of the turbo hybrid era, Brackley’s biggest internal battle isn’t on track but in the boardroom.
What happens next? That depends on Max
With Red Bull continuing to wobble post-Horner and a leadership reshuffle still sending shockwaves through Milton Keynes, Verstappen holds all the cards. And with contract performance clauses that could give him an exit door, he might just use them if he believes Mercedes—or rather, parts of Mercedes—are serious about winning again.
The real question is whether Toto Wolff will follow the CEO’s lead, or whether he’s quietly hoping to build a future with Russell and Antonelli while letting the Verstappen speculation die out naturally.
But in the ruthless world of Formula 1, betting against the best driver on the grid is not something shareholders tend to appreciate.
Is Wolff playing it safe while the boardroom wants to roll the dice? Could Verstappen really jump ship—or is this all high-stakes paddock theatre? Comment below and tell us your verdict.
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MORE F1 NEWS – Wolff overruled by Mercedes-Benz CEO over Verstappen
The never ending saga of Verstappen moving to Mercedes has been afforded somewhat of a break since the bombshell news that Christian Horner had been sacked from Red Bull Racing. Yet with George Russell likely to be badgered again this weekend over why he hasn’t received a contract extension from the silver arrows team, the matter remains close to the headlines.
The tale to date began last season when in an attempt to destabilise his rivals, Toto Wolff made a open offer to Max Verstappen to join his Mercedes team. He further admitted talks had taken place between the Verstappen camp and himself over the summer break, although concluded any move would now be in 2026 and not earlier.
Knowing how important Dr. Helmut Marko is to Verstappen, Wolff even made the 81 year old Austrian an offer to join the Mercedes team. While rumours swirled in Saudi Arabia that Dr. Marko may be suspended for a suspected part in the leak of confidential documents, the Mercedes boss said cheekily: “Marko could take the old place of Niki Lauda at Mercedes. We are missing our old mascot anyway. Then we’ll just take Helmut! He fits in terms of age. He doesn’t have a red cap, but he can come to us.” READ MORE ON THIS STORY
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Wolff had colluded with Jos to bring down his arch enemy Horner and they succeeded.
Wolff is a poor loser and could not tolerate his team and bedfellow Hamilton lose to Red Bull and Max respectively. He has not gotten over it yet. I suspect that his flirting with Max was no more than a political ruse to create rumbles within Red Bull. Now that he has seen off his adversary, he sits smug, playing games with poor Georgie.
If Max does indeed make the move to Mercedes, Wolff will try his most vicious political games to make it uncomfortable for Max.
Hamilton left Merc thinking the Ferrari car is better. Now that Merc has shown that it has the better car, and Hamilton disenchanted with Ferrari, it will be interesting to see Wolff’s reaction if Hamilton wants to return to Mercedes!