'Guilty of talking too much': Christian Horner feud fuels Max Verstappen to Mercedes rumour
Could Max Verstappen cut his contract with Red Bull short to join Mercedes? That's the insinuation amid turmoil within the Milton Keynes camp over team boss Christian Horner's behaviour investigation.
Verstappen is currently contracted to race for Red Bull through to 2028. However, the saga that's forced a wedge between Horner and Verstappen's father has raised questions.
There have been suggestions that exit clauses in the contract could be triggered if the situation worsens and key team members leave – namely Horner, advisor Helmut Marko, or engineer Adrian Newey.
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Horner has been cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent investigation led by the drinks manufacturer, although that hasn't stopped Verstappen Sr from suggesting the team will "implode" if he stays. So could a citation exist in which Verstappen Jr wants out?
Max Verstappen (left) and Toto Wolff pictured in 2014 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Getty
There is a vacancy to be filled at Mercedes in 2025 with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari.
Quizzed on the possibility of Verstappen joining the Silver Arrows, team principal Toto Wolff suggested the Dutch driver would only join if Mercedes had the quickest widget.
With the dominance Red Bull has displayed, and with Mercedes clearly not as quick as Ferrari or perhaps even McLaren, it's hard to see a switch happening.
"I think the driver will always choose the quickest car. That is fundamentally what it's all about," Wolff told Motorsport.com.
"At the moment the Red Bull is the quickest car, so that will obviously be the priority."
George Russell in his Mercedes is followed by Red Bull's Max Verstappen in Bahrain. Clive Mason via Getty Images
Mercedes finds itself in an awkward spot with no obvious candidate to fill the void left by Hamilton.
Italian teen Kimi Antonelli has been earmarked as an option straight out of F2, although he struggled on debut in Bahrain where he finished 14th and 10th with Prema.
Prema had an out-of-character weekend at the Sakhir circuit with Oliver Bearman only 16th and 15th in the two races.
Prema has three F2 titles with Charles Leclerc (2017), Mick Schumacher (2020), and Oscar Piastri (2021).
The F2 championship is led by Sauber junior driver Zane Maloney who won both races.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Prema Racing is in his debut season of the FIA Formula 2 Championship. Clive Mason via Getty Images
"A championship-winning team 17th and 18th, in F2, that's not at all where they should be," Wolff said when asked of Antonelli's debut.
"I think you can look at him against the team-mate, that is one of the comparisons, and I think Oliver Bearman is a top driver.
"But I think, like I always said, I'm almost guilty of talking too much. We will see how the next few races pan out.
"I'm in no hurry for us to take a decision on drivers. I've been rushed in a hurry by Lewis. So, this time around I'm going to take it easy and evaluate the market."
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There are a handful of F1 drivers off-contract at the end of the 2024 season.
Carlos Sainz, who will be replaced by Hamilton at Ferrari, could be a quick fix for Mercedes.
Two-time champion Fernando Alonso is also an option.
