Mercedes told Max Verstappen has ‘strict requirement’ that would stop him racing alongside one driver

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Mercedes have fresh hope of signing Max Verstappen after the evident tension in the Red Bull camp at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Silver Arrows have held off on confirming their Lewis Hamilton replacement partly because they’re waiting for total clarity on Verstappen’s future.

Verstappen repeatedly vented his frustration over the radio during the race. P5 represented his joint-second worst result of the season.

He was unhappy with Red Bull’s strategic decisions, with the team allowing Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to perform undercuts, and also complained about the car balance. But engineer Gianpiero Lambiase had little patience.

When Verstappen complained about Hamilton allegedly moving under braking in their late collision, Lambiase expressed little interest in a ‘childish’ dispute with other teams. He also sarcastically criticised the world champion for taking too much life out of his tyres.

Verstappen feels he hasn’t been listened to after raising concerns about the RB20. The car that started the season with four wins from five races has only won three of the eight since.

Indeed, Red Bull are currently enduring their longest barren run since the end of 2021 (three races). McLaren appear to have leapfrogged them, while Mercedes are close too even after significant upgrade packages from Milton Keynes.

Peter Windsor says Max Verstappen would reject George Russell as Mercedes teammate

Speaking on the Cameron F1 YouTube channel, journalist Peter Windsor flagged up one issue that may prevent Verstappen jumping ship to Mercedes. He apparently won’t want to race alongside George Russell.

Russell is a two-time Grand Prix winner with three pole positions and 13 podiums under his belt. He’s also been with Mercedes since the start of the 2022 season, whereas Verstappen would have to adapt to the environment.

The Dutchman was involved in competitive match-ups with Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo earlier in his career. But he’s since become accustomed to dominating the intra-team battles against Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and Sergio Perez.

Windsor reckons that Verstappen would only join Mercedes if he knew was up against Kimi Antonelli. The 17-year-old F2 starlet could make his debut with the German manufacturer next season.

“For me, the only way Max would go to Mercedes would be if Antonelli was in the other car,” Windsor said. “I can’t imagine he’d want George in the other car. I’m pretty sure that would be one of his strict requirements.”

New Max Verstappen exit clauses emerge after Helmut Marko extension

Toto Wolff surely knows by now that he faces a major dilemma if Verstappen places himself on the market. He’ll almost certainly snap him up, but then he must choose between teenage prodigy Antonelli and proven race-winner Russell for the second seat.

The latter would likely attract plenty of interest if he became available. Audi is one potential destination for Russell come 2026.

Significantly, Verstappen has now seen one of his exit routes blocked. He can no longer follow Helmut Marko out the door after the Austrian signed a new contract and removed the clause tying their futures together.

But that’s not his only way out. Verstappen also negotiated performance clauses into his deal, allowing him to move on if Red Bull fall below a certain standard.