How Max Verstappen insiders now view his £86m Red Bull buyout clause amid Mercedes interest

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Rumours around Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull are gaining momentum as a proposed move to Mercedes starts to look like a possibility.

Speculation mounted over the Austrian Grand Prix weekend regarding the Dutchman, after both Toto Wolff and George Russell confirmed that Mercedes are in talks with Verstappen over a deal to join the team.

Mercedes have yet to extend Russell’s contract or tie Andrea Kimi Antonelli down for the 2026 season, even though some staffers within the Silver Arrows believe a matchup with the Briton would be ‘mayhem’ in the same team.

Verstappen batted away any suggestions that he was in talks with Wolff over a drive, but reports emerged over the British GP over the potential amount it would cost to buy him out of his Red Bull contract that runs until 2028.

Martin Brundle said it was £100 million+, and now insiders within Verstappen’s management have given their thoughts on the proposed amount, according to journalist Frank Westenburg, when speaking on the Formule 1 Magazine Paddockpraat podcast.

Max Verstappen insiders think Red Bull buyout is ‘peanuts’ for Mercedes

Verstappen is contracted with Red Bull until 2028 and has shown support for seeing out the deal, but if a move to Mercedes becomes possible, it is likely he will consider a change.

According to Westenburg, insiders within Verstappen’s camp believe that the buyout of his contract at Red Bull would be nominal considering the potential commercial gains.

“On Sunday I happened to be talking about that with Bob van Oosthoud. He’s a sports marketer but also an advisor to the Verstappen management in the background and he said such a settlement would amount to €100 million or more,” said Westenburg.

“He said that is always peanuts for a company like Mercedes because you not only bring in a winner, a champion, a figurehead but also a real brand ambassador and that applied to all kinds of axis who earn back in terms of sporting performances and commercially with merchandise and the brand value of Mercedes.”

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Max Verstappen contact Toto Wolff over talks about ‘future’

Contrary to popular belief, it was actually Verstappen who initiated talks with Wolff to “chat about the future” considering Mercedes is tipped to be the fastest package in 2026.

The new technical regulations for the 2026 F1 season are set to shake up the current competitive order, and Mercedes are said to have the edge with its engine as it did with the last switch to hybrid power units in 2014.

Red Bull will switch to making its own power units for the first time with help from Ford, who are helping produce the electrification side of the engine.

Verstappen might not leave Red Bull until 2027, as he may wait to see how the field develops. This means he can properly assess where the two teams are before making a final decision.