The bombshell: Max Verstappen – Mercedes, are talks resuming?

It is not a great moment for Max Verstappen. The four-time world champion is facing a start to the season likely below the initial expectations, which were already not extremely high.

The Red Bull RB22 is plagued by several issues. The first, and most predictable, relates to the power unit developed in collaboration with Ford, which shows a significant performance deficit compared to the Mercedes engine. But that’s not all: it is also a fragile and still immature power unit that has shown more than one reliability problem in these opening races.

Perhaps, however, this is not the only difficulty. What has most unsettled Max Verstappen is an RB22 that is not up to the level of rivals in terms of chassis and aerodynamics: a car that tends excessively to understeer and with which the Dutch driver struggles to find an acceptable level of feel and confidence.

Max Verstappen: general dissatisfaction

The problem for Verstappen does not concern only the car but also the 2026 regulatory framework, which he has criticized repeatedly in various forums, even suggesting, as is well known, a potential departure from Formula 1.

However, in recent hours, a “lurking” piece of news has emerged: Verstappen could actually continue in Formula 1. And not at Milton Keynes. It is worth remembering that the driver is tied to Red Bull with a contract until 2028, but with termination clauses that can be activated under certain ranking conditions at specific moments of the season.

The Mercedes hypothesis

These clauses could be activated not to leave the sport for another category (such as GT racing), but for a sensational switch to Mercedes.

This is the “bombshell” launched by Juan Pablo Montoya, who, speaking to Casinostugan, revealed that there had been a phone call between Verstappen and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. It should be remembered that Wolff has never hidden his past interest in the Dutch champion: there have been several contacts, some even public with Verstappen’s father, and a meeting between Verstappen and the Austrian manager also took place this summer, on a boat in the Italian seas.

Wolff considers Verstappen the strongest driver in the current landscape, while the Dutchman is notoriously focused on always competing at the very top. In this sense, Mercedes and its power unit represent an extremely attractive option considering the potential long-term technical advantage. According to Montoya, contact between the parties has already occurred.

Mercedes – Verstappen: is George Russell the sacrificed driver?

In this scenario, Andrea Kimi Antonelli also comes into play, who has had a brilliant start to the season with two victories, making it unlikely he would be sacrificed. The situation is different for George Russell, who, despite winning the season opener, has not had a particularly convincing phase and seems to struggle with the return of the Italian driver.

This internal balance, combined with the rise of the young Italian talent, could influence Wolff’s future decisions, pushing him to focus decisively on Verstappen, increasingly frustrated with the situation at Red Bull and potentially eager for a change of scenery.

Furthermore, another dynamic could have an impact: the excellent relationship that has developed between Verstappen and Antonelli, who have shown good chemistry off the track. The same does not apply to George Russell, who has clashed with Max several times.

Speculation and possibilities

For now, these remain hypotheses. However, the confidence with which Montoya speaks about the phone call suggests that something is moving. It could be a simple exploratory contact, but it is equally true that, when discussing these high-profile figures, every detail carries significant weight.

Something, in short, seems to be simmering behind the scenes. It is not excluded that in the coming months discussions could resume on a scenario already touched upon in the past, but which, today, in light of Red Bull’s difficulties and Verstappen’s dissatisfaction, could find new and concrete momentum.

Speculation and whispers abound. But if a well-informed figure like Juan Pablo Montoya alludes to something, it is possible that concrete discussions have already taken place. It is too early to say what will happen; for now, we can only report what could potentially be a real bombshell capable of shaking up the balance of Formula 1.