Zak Brown sparks rumors of Verstappen’s move to Mercedes amid £100 million Red Bull contract buyout. Rumors intensify about Max Verstappen’s potential move to Mercedes in 2026.

Rumors of a rapid acceleration in contract negotiations between Max Verstappen and the Mercedes Formula 1 team for the 2026 season have erupted in the paddock ahead of the highly anticipated British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone. This topic is expected to become the hottest off-track story throughout the entire race weekend. According to Italian motorsport journalist Davide Camicioli reporting for Sky Italia, the four-time world champion Max Verstappen is reportedly very close to signing a contract with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. This would come at the expense of either Andrea Kimi Antonelli or George Russell, with the English driver strongly suspected to be the one vacating his seat for the Dutch champion.

The main obstacle to finalizing this deal, according to Camicioli, lies with the Mercedes board of directors, who would face a significant financial challenge to acquire Verstappen’s services. There are persistent rumors about contract clauses that might allow Max Verstappen to exit his current contract with Red Bull prematurely, which runs until 2028. If no such loophole can be activated to break the long-standing partnership between Max Verstappen and the Milton Keynes-based team, Mercedes would reportedly have to pay a massive buyout fee estimated at around 100 million British pounds. This new insider information comes from Craig Slater, Sky UK’s paddock correspondent, who cites his Italian Sky colleagues as the primary source for the story of intensified talks between Verstappen and Toto Wolff.

Adding fuel to the fire of speculation was McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who further increased the pressure on Red Bull team principal Christian Horner by openly expressing his belief that advanced talks are indeed underway between Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff. “I have always been a supporter of the saying – Brown told Sky UK – that where there’s smoke, there’s fire. If everyone was focused solely on keeping their seat, that’s what they would say. But instead, everyone is talking and no one is confirming anything, which tells me that conversations are happening. I said this a while ago… I wouldn’t be surprised to see Verstappen at Mercedes. Without Max, Red Bull would be behind the Racing Bulls, and I think it’s only Max keeping them afloat. I suggest people stay tuned because a new chapter of this story could soon unfold.”