Max Verstappen 'agreed' to a move to Mercedes F1.

      Max Verstappen is reportedly poised to depart from Red Bull at the conclusion of the season after verbally agreeing to join Mercedes F1. Red Bull may recover from their performance in Austria with better speed at Silverstone. Following the team's home race, which was marked by sluggish performance and Verstappen's retirement on lap 1, the usually optimistic Dr. Helmut Marko has now joined the four-time world champion in essentially conceding both championships. Despite the significant 61-point deficit to the leading McLaren, Silverstone could offer a more competitive weekend for Verstappen.

      "I'm very curious about Silverstone," said Erik van Haren, a journalist from De Telegraaf. "We can expect low temperatures and fast corners. This will be a crucial weekend to gauge Red Bull's standing."

      Former F1 driver Christijan Albers concurred, stating, "If I had to predict now, I would analyze that Red Bull should actually perform very strongly there. The high speeds and long straights suggest Max could have a real advantage."

      However, if things don’t pan out for Verstappen in the UK, it might jeopardize not only his championship ambitions but also his confidence in Red Bull. Speculation following the Austrian GP indicated that serious discussions might be ongoing between Verstappen's management and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. Sky Sport Italy reported that Verstappen has already “agreed” to Wolff's offer and is "close" to joining Mercedes after “concrete negotiations.”

      George Russell, who is currently in good form, is still awaiting a new contract. "I don’t want to keep any driver waiting," Wolff admitted, "but we still have ample time. Eventually, everything will be resolved by the time we reach the summer break."

      Some speculate that Mercedes' 2026 lineup could feature Verstappen alongside Wolff's promising 18-year-old protégé, Kimi Antonelli, who was involved in a collision with Verstappen at the Austrian GP. "Were Kimi and Max particularly friendly after that, as they might be teammates next year?" cheekily asked former F1 driver Alex Wurz. Wolff replied on ORF, "They simply respect each other. I think Max appreciates Kimi’s career. There are numerous parallels between the two."

      Wurz, with a cheeky tone, said, "No answer." Meanwhile, Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko has some advice for Wolff. "Anyone alongside Max seems to be overshadowed," he remarked. "For Antonelli, who will be in his second year in Formula 1, partnering with Max would be too soon."

      Auto Motor und Sport journalist Michael Schmidt believes that bringing Verstappen on board would pose a significant risk for Wolff. "He risks creating a team that revolves around a single driver," he cautioned. "That’s precisely what has occurred at Red Bull. Having Russell and Verstappen together in one team would definitely bring fireworks—and would also be quite costly."

      Dutch racing figure Tom Coronel opined that a move to Mercedes could be a gamble for Verstappen. "Just remind me, how competitive was Mercedes in Austria?" he rhetorically asked Viaplay. "Trust me, Max will remain at Red Bull." Coronel even thinks Verstappen still has a chance at a fifth consecutive drivers' world championship. "The two McLarens would have to take each other out," he pointed out, "but we saw that it nearly happened."