Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Mercedes, Formula 1
Ryan Smart
Max Verstappen can equal a little-known F1 record that has been held for 69 years if he joins Mercedes for the 2026 season.
Sky Sports Italia reported on Tuesday night that the reigning four-time champion is 'open' to joining the Silver Arrows.
His future at Red Bull, for whom he has raced for since 2016, has come under increasing doubt over recent months.
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The team are currently fourth in the Constructors' Championship after Verstappen was forced to retire in Austria.
The Dutchman was hit by Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli on lap one and suffered race-ending damage.
Speaking after the Grand Prix to ORF, the team's advisor Helmut Marko confirmed that Verstappen, who is under contract until 2028, does have 'performance-related clauses' in his current deal.
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It is unclear, however, as to the exact wording of those clauses.
Verstappen has spent his entire F1 career under the Red Bull banner, having driven for their junior team Toro Rosso in his debut season.
The Dutchman was then called up to the senior team after just four races in 2016, replacing Daniil Kvyat.
Verstappen won his debut race for Red Bull at the Spanish Grand Prix, becoming the youngest driver to stand on top of an F1 podium.
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He profited from an early crash involving Mercedes team-mates Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton and led the final 22 laps, holding off Kimi Raikkonen.
As a result, Verstappen could become only the second driver in Formula 1 history to win his debut race for two different teams if he signs for Mercedes.
That record is currently held by Juan Manuel Fangio, the sport's first five-time world champion.
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The Argentinian drove in F1's first-ever Grand Prix in 1950, and won his first race for Mercedes in 1954 and Ferrari in 1956.
He also won his first Grand Prix for Maserati in 1957, but had already driven for the team in 1953 and 1954.
Fangio won 24 of his 52 F1 Grand Prix starts - with his percentage of wins (46.15 per cent) being the highest of all-time.
He never finished below second in the Drivers' Championship in any of his full Formula 1 seasons.
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His last title was captured in 1957 before he retired in 1958, having completed only two races.