With rumours swirling about the “conversations” Toto Wolff is having with Max Verstappen, it can’t be completely ruled out that the four-time world champion could end up driving for Mercedes in 2026. But would that be the right move for the team? And if so, who should share the garage with him?
That scenario remains unlikely. Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until 2028, and getting out of it won’t be straightforward. But in F1, anything is possible, and the longer Mercedes delays confirming its 2026 line-up, the more the rumours will grow. Wolff isn’t denying that conversations are taking place, and his current lead driver, George Russell, openly acknowledges that Verstappen is on Wolff’s “radar”. So even if unlikely, the possibility of Verstappen joining Mercedes next season isn’t zero.
