A sensational news story has emerged from the Formula 1 paddock: Max Verstappen is reportedly ready to leave Red Bull Racing as early as the 2026 season, with the Mercedes team led by Toto Wolff waiting to welcome him. According to insider reports from the paddock, an agreement between the four-time World Champion and Mercedes is close to being finalized.
The paths of Red Bull Racing and the Dutch driver, who has won four Formula 1 World Championships, seem set to part ways. According to what has been revealed from sources within the F1 paddock, Max Verstappen could secure an early release from his contract with the Milton Keynes-based team by activating a favorable clause. This would allow him to join Mercedes for the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship.
Max Verstappen is increasingly close to joining Mercedes and is expected to arrive at the team managed by Toto Wolff starting from the 2026 season. The Italian editorial team of Sky Sport broke this sensational news: according to the broadcaster, the Dutch champion is on the verge of saying farewell to Red Bull after a decade-long partnership.
Verstappen and Mercedes: “Deal Close for 2026”
“Max Verstappen, the reigning World Champion with Red Bull Racing, appears close to reaching an agreement with Mercedes,” announced the Sky Sport team, as reported by journalist Davide Camicioli. The tone was definitive: “This is a very concrete option. The driver has given his consent to the transfer.”
There are still some contractual details to resolve, but the 27-year-old driver from Hasselt, Belgium, could use a specific clause in his current contract that would free him at the end of the 2025 season. “Verstappen’s contract runs until 2028, but it includes a clause favorable to him that would allow him to leave after this season,” added the report.
Mercedes Still Awaits Final Approval for Verstappen Signing
The last real obstacles between Max Verstappen and the Anglo-German Mercedes team are reportedly linked to “a part of the Mercedes board,” although the negotiations are well advanced.
Some members at the highest level of the Brackley-based team remain unconvinced about the deal. “They are not entirely convinced because they know, with the regulation changes coming in 2026, that Mercedes will have the best car on the grid.” According to Sky Sport, the skeptical faction within Mercedes’ board also wants to avoid media speculation. “The press would say, ‘They won because they signed Verstappen.’”
Who Would Replace Max Verstappen at Mercedes in 2026?
Mercedes’ current driver lineup includes George Russell, who has been a mainstay of the team since 2022, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the young Italian prodigy who made his Formula 1 debut at the start of the 2025 season.
With the potential arrival of Max Verstappen at Brackley, it would likely be George Russell who would leave the German team. The English driver’s contract is due to expire, and there is very little news regarding his future. Rumors are rife, but Mercedes has yet to confirm any decision, and it may never come.
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