Some Mercedes staff predict ‘mayhem’ if one Max Verstappen scenario plays out next season

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Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull could be uncertain after he had a difficult weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix.

The Dutchman’s race only lasted three corners, but Red Bull faced far bigger problems over the weekend with the RB21 in the high temperatures.

F1 technical expert Gary Anderson now thinks Red Bull is dealing with a problem that they do not understand, and that it is a legacy of having let Adrian Newey leave for rivals Aston Martin.

Verstappen can now activate an exit clause in his contract, which states that he can negotiate an exit from his 2028 agreement if he is not at least within the top two in the championship.

Mercedes has been touted as the potential avenue for Verstappen, but F1 journalist Michael Schmidt has revealed what staff at the team think about a potential move when speaking on the Formel Schmidt podcast.

Mercedes staff say it would be ‘mayhem’ to let Max Verstappen race alongside George Russell

Toto Wolff has made no secret of wanting Verstappen, especially after his pact with Lewis Hamilton ended in 2024.

The idea that Verstappen would join his arch rivals, Mercedes, would mean that he is potentially going to be paired with George Russell.

But Mercedes staff were not overly keen on the prospect, given their recent history together on track.

Lischika: “And Russell and Verstappen at the same team, you don’t think that would work?”

Schmidt: “No, someone from Mercedes told me it would be mayhem, fireworks every day. I don’t think everyone would agree to that, and it would be more expensive.”

Max Verstappen would likely replace George Russell at Mercedes in any move

Any move for Verstappen would likely mean that Russell is moved aside and will need to join another team on the grid.

The pair have too much history to make it work properly, particularly after Russell’s spat with Verstappen in Qatar last year.

Russell is a formidable driver and a proven race winner, so would likely not find it difficult to get another seat on the grid, but Verstappen is much more of the superstar driver that Mercedes needs.

Mercedes have raced with an all-non-world championship-winning driver lineup this year for the first time in their history, with Russell unlikely to win this year’s title.

Verstappen’s reaction to Antonelli crashing into him at Austria suggests he gets on well with the Italian, plus Mercedes sees him as their future.