Since the Christian Horner sexual abuse investigation saga unfolded earlier this year, Red Bull Racing, Mercedes’ biggest rival, has been on the brink of a collapse. Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley left the team by triggering an early exit clause, which is believed to be the beginning of a mass exodus.
The next big threat awaiting Red Bull is three-time World Champion Max Verstappen. Though his present contract extends until 2028, rumors have linked him to every other top team, including Mercedes and Aston Martin. Despite Max reaffirming his commitment to Red Bull, recent reports have exposed a hidden deal brewing under Christian Horner’s nose.
Max Verstappen To Join Hands With Toto Wolff Starting From 2026!
Max Verstappen, who has been with Red Bull since 2016 and has become the face of the team’s success, is under contract until 2028. After three championships, he is struggling this year with a faulty car coupled with internal stability. Moreover, with the 2026 engine regulation looming, Max was rumored to be switching teams for the 2026 season. As Adrian Newey joined Aston Martin, Lawrence Stroll reportedly has set eyes on Verstappen next. However, F1 insider reports that Mercedes’ team principal Toto Wolff is miles ahead. Apparently, Max’s dad, Jos Verstappen, already has an informal agreement in place with Toto Wolff, which guarantees Max’s switch to the team in the 2026 season.
F1 Insider’s report further states that Toto Wolff lured Max Verstappen with the 2026 engine formulation plans. Notably, Mercedes has always had the upper hand with their robot engine manufacturing unit. They bossed the turbo hybrid era and are expected to follow the same trajectory post the 2026 season. On the other hand, Red Bull is gambling with a homegrown engine project in partnership with Ford. Hence, Max Verstappen is learned to be having reservations about Red Bull’s future plans, especially now that Adrian Newey is gone. This means , Verstappen is likely to trigger an early exit clause and move to Brackley for the 2026 season onwards. While such a shift would shake up the sport, given Verstappen’s current dominance with Red Bull Racing, the prospect of the reigning champion joining Mercedes in the near future appears bleak, especially with Wolff committing to 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli for the 2025 season.
Mercedes Rookie Recalls Mental Challenge Following Monza Crash!
Mercedes promoted rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli for the FP1 session of the Monza Grand Prix. However, Kimi had the worst possible debut in F1 as he crashed after the first lap. While the team announced him as formal replacement for Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season onwards, the after effects of crash stayed with Antonelli.
He recently recalled having a tough time getting to terms with the early failure. The lack of experience definitely played a big role. Regardless, the official announcement from Mercedes following the FP1 session helped Kimi Antonelli distract himself from the negativity. “It is an amazing feeling to be announced as a Mercedes works driver alongside George for 2025,” Antonelli said.
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