Max Verstappen eyeing Mercedes switch? Former F1 driver drops...

Red Bull racing’s Max Verstappen is preparing for the upcoming China Grand Prix set to start on April 21. Following his recent victory in Japan, he is again the favorite to win. However, there’s growing speculation that Verstappen might be considering a switch from Red Bull to Mercedes, despite being under contract with Red Bull until 2028. Reports suggest that Verstappen is exploring his options with Mercedes, especially since Lewis Hamilton is set to join Ferrari in 2025.

Former Red Bull Formula 1 driver Robert Doornbos has indicated that Verstappen is already in discussions with Mercedes, focusing particularly on the power units Mercedes plans to use starting in 2026—a key year when significant changes to power unit regulations will be implemented.

Doornbos shared on Ziggo Sport that he’s learned from reliable sources about Verstappen’s discussions with Mercedes, emphasizing that Verstappen is keen to understand Mercedes’ future engine plans. “He already knows what they will do at Ford and Red Bull in 2026. That is a crucial year. You can hardly imagine it, but something is happening behind the scenes. This will be an exciting month. I think we will have a lot of news in April,” Doornbos stated.

Red Bull is currently developing its power units in collaboration with Ford, which they will introduce in 2026. Conversely, Mercedes has extensive experience with championship-winning engines, having adopted hybrid power units a decade ago.

With the upcoming regulation changes potentially reshuffling the competitive landscape, Verstappen appears to be taking no risks in maintaining his competitive edge, carefully evaluating his future options amid the evolving dynamics within F1.