Report: Reigning F1 World Champion Max Verstappen Could Join Mercedes

Reigning three-time Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen could make a shock move to Mercedes from the dominant Red Bull Racing team, according to former F1 driver and commentator Johnny Herbert. Verstappen has won three consecutive world drivers' championships with the Milton Keynes-based team, which currently possesses the fastest car in F1.

The potential move comes amidst a behind-the-scenes power struggle involving Christian Horner, the Red Bull Racing team principal and CEO, who was accused of inappropriate behaviour by a female employee; Helmut Marko, Red Bull's legendary motorsporting consultant; and Oliver Mintzlaff, the CEO of Red Bull's sporting endeavours.

Verstappen has won an astonishing 46 of the last 68 races since the 2021 season, cementing his position as the third most successful F1 driver of all time, behind only Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. If Verstappen wins the Australian GP, he will equal his own record of 10 consecutive race wins, set last year.

Following the Bahrain GP, Verstappen's father, Jos, called for the dismissal of Christian Horner, who had been cleared after an investigation into inappropriate behaviour. Allegations also surfaced regarding Helmut Marko, who allegedly leaked information to the press about Horner's case.

Verstappen has stated that his future would be linked to Marko, and if the motorsporting consultant were to leave Red Bull, it would significantly impact his situation. Horner has also asserted that no one is bigger than the team, even the best driver in the world. Herbert said, "I hear it is pretty close to a done deal, brokered between Max and Mercedes. Is it a power play by the Verstappen team? Possibly."

He added, "I don't think it is the best scenario for Max. Mercedes have struggled for the last three years and still haven't got a good car. The whole shenanigans are ripping Red Bull apart, as Jos Verstappen has said. It is ripping the team apart to the extent they might well lose their biggest asset."

With Mercedes set to lose its talisman, Lewis Hamilton, to Ferrari in the 2025 season, the team has a vacancy that Verstappen could potentially fill. It has also been noted that one of the alleged reasons for the rift between Horner and Marko is an addendum in Verstappen's contract allowing him to leave the team if Marko departs before its slated completion in 2028.

Herbert explains, "If you really want to continue winning World Championships, then Max should stay at Red Bull. But for that to happen, harmony has to return. The crux will be whether Helmut Marko stays. If Helmut leaves then Max will too."

There are also concerns that if Verstappen left, Red Bull's star chief technical officer and design guru, Adrian Newey, could also depart. Newey, the most decorated F1 designer in history, has been instrumental in the team's success since the introduction of the ground effect downforce era in 2022.

Newey could either leave to Mercedes with Verstappen, but if rumours are true Ferrari has offered him a blank cheque to join Maranello who could tempt him. Newey has always expressed a regret of not having worked with Hamilton and Ferrari, and for the first time the chips are in place — with Ferrari aggressively poaching talent from rivals.