Max Verstappen has accepted an offer from Toto Wolff to leave Red Bull and join Mercedes, according to a report. Just a year after Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, another historic driver transfer could take place.
Verstappen is currently the hottest property on the F1 driver market. Only he could make Wolff abandon his current duo of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
During the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, Russell himself confirmed that talks with Verstappen were ongoing. This is a deal more than 10 years in the making after Wolff lost out in 2014.
According to Sky Italy, Wolff has now reached a provisional agreement with the four-time world champion. Verstappen has an exit clause in his deal that reportedly became active after last weekend’s race.
Mercedes board still need to approve Toto Wolff’s Max Verstappen move
The report confirms that Verstappen would replace Russell if the deal goes through. Wolff would ordinarily have been happy to retain the former Williams driver, who recently won in Canada, but this opportunity ‘cannot be ignored’.
It’s not a foregone conclusion yet, though. ‘Part of the Mercedes board’ have not yet given their approval.
Russell was negotiating a deal worth around €35m (£30m) per season. By contrast, Verstappen earns up to £59m per year at Red Bull.
It was recently claimed that Mercedes may be reluctant to sign Verstappen amid cost-cutting measures across the company. It’s an issue of optics rather than affordability.
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George Russell must not join Red Bull if he loses Mercedes seat
The seismic move would naturally trigger a ‘domino effect’ in the F1 driver market, just as Hamilton’s Ferrari switch did in 2024. Numerous teams would make plays for Russell as a free agent.
Cadillac could pursue Russell as a franchise signing, but he’s unlikely to accept an offer from newcomers. Equally, though, it may be a mistake to swap seats with Verstappen.
The Austrian GP exposed Christian Horner’s overreliance on the Dutchman. Yuki Tsunoda finished in last place, two laps down.
Verstappen has driven around Red Bull’s fundamental car problems while several highly-rated drivers have toiled alongside him. Russell should look to Aston Martin instead, where Lawrence Stroll has been assembling the ingredients of a title-winning team.
