A year after intense speculation about the Formula 1 future Max Verstappen with Red Bull, similar rumours are rearing their heads again, with further links to a future move to rivals Mercedes.
The Dutchman’s long-term plans in F1 have been the subject of much talk since the beginning of the season, sparked by his publicly-voiced dislike of the sport’s new power unit regulations.
Coupled with a modest start to the campaign by the Milton Keynes-based squad, as well as the forthcoming departure of race engineer and friend, Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen has cut a somewhat unhappy figure.
The additional elephant in the room has been in the shape of where he has appeared much happier – on a race track in GT3 racing – having performed a number of outings in the ADAC series, culminating in an unsuccessful attempt at winning the Nurburgring 24 Hours.
Last summer, the rumour mill churned at a blistering speed regarding supposed talks with Mercedes. The chatter in the paddock lasted for much of the European season, culminating in Verstappen confirming he would race for Red Bull in 2026, amid the team’s new power unit partnership with Ford.
Those rumours resurfaced as Verstappen and F1 gathered in Montreal for this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, with father Jos being spotted in conversation with Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff.
Verstappen has appeared to have been somewhat placated by the fact F1’s power unit ratio will swing back towards ICE next year, in response to an overwhelming level of discontent amongst those on the grid.
And ahead of this weekend’s race, Verstappen, speaking to Dutch publication De Telegraaf, confirmed he would be in F1 next year, but did not say for which team.
“Yes, definitely,” he said. “Unless very crazy things happen, but I don’t assume that. I hope everyone keeps their word.
“But I can confirm that I will stay in Formula 1.”
Mekies refuses to be drawn on further Max Verstappen F1 speculation
The spotting of Verstappen Sr with Wolff reignited the previous summer’s rumours, which, if true, would cause the Austrian an even bigger dilemma than before.
With Andrea Kimi Antonelli now proving his worth as a race-winner, the hypothetical decision of potentially replacing either the Italian teenager or the experienced and proven winner George Russell with Verstappen would be a tricky one.
But Red Bull Team Principal and CEO Laurent Mekies was nonplussed about the meeting and the speculation surrounding it.
“I tell you what, as much as it may sound exciting to see that from the outside, I really don’t think there is any intention particular behind [the meeting],” Mekies told media, including Motorsport Week.
“If any of these guys wants to have a chat, it’s going to be a story anyway. We speak all the time with Max, and with Jos, and it’s completely natural that they can have conversations with Toto.
“Max was racing in a Mercedes last week, in GT3, so I genuinely don’t think it’s part of a game plan to get a message through.”
With Mercedes now the class of the field, it is natural that any vague and potentially unsubstantiated link between the team and Verstappen is going to grow.
But with Red Bull appearing to have caught up over the five-week break in the calendar, the choice may also be a hard one for Verstappen.
READ MORE – Max Verstappen drops major update on future ahead of F1 Canadian GP
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