Mercedes CEO has made his decision on signing Max Verstappen for the 2026 F1 season following the sacking of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
The future of reigning world champion Verstappen has been the story on everyone's lips in the F1 paddock, following confirmation from Toto Wolff that Mercedes are interested in his signature.
Mercedes are yet to renew the contract of both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for next season leaving both drivers' seats vulnerable to The Dutchman.
This comes as a particular surprise for Russell, who has been in the Mercedes Academy since 2017 and performed exceptionally since being promoted from Williams in 2022.
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Verstappen's future has been cast into even more doubt as Red Bull confirmed on Wednesday morning that Christian Horner has been sacked with immediate effect.
Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff said: "We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years.
"With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise, and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula 1. Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history."
Mercedes give green light to sign Max Verstappen
With Red Bull in disarray, it could be the perfect time for Mercedes to pounce, and according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the decision to sign Verstappen has already been made.
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The report claims that Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius has given the 'green light' for the team to actively approach the 27-year-old.
Verstappen is under contract at Red Bull until 2028 but has a buyout clause of £87 million, and according to the Italian newspaper, the Silver Arrows would be willing to pay up to get Verstappen in a Mercedes for 2026.
Despite winning races in 2025, Verstappen's hopes of retaining his title seem minimal with McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris significantly ahead in the standings.
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Speaking ahead of the British Grand Prix, Verstappen refused to rule out a move to Mercedes.
"I'm going to say no, because if I say yes, people will make up headlines again, and that's not what I want," he told the media.
Topics: Max Verstappen, Mercedes, Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing, George Russell
Tom Jenkins