Max Verstappen was quizzed repeatedly regarding a potential shocking move to Mercedes for the 2026 Formula 1 season ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen focused on improving at Red Bull while Mercedes speculation swirls
Ahead of the British Grand Prix Max Verstappen is focused on improving the present, and not the future
Photo by Bryn Lennon - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images
Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.
Meeting with the media at Silverstone on Thursday, the Red Bull driver remained tight-lipped about the rumors, saying he has “nothing to add” while trying to avoid generating further headlines.
“I have nothing to add,” he said during his media session at Silverstone. “What I said last week. Other people write stuff, that’s great but it’s not for me.”
Rumors of a shocking move to Mercedes have followed Verstappen, and the entire F1 grid, from paddock to paddock in recent weeks. Those rumors picked up steam in the past 48 hours when a report from Sky Sports Italy indicated that Verstappen had agreed to move to Mercedes.
The driver did his best to temper those stories during his media session at Silverstone on Thursday. Asked if he could envision himself driving for another team, Verstappen moved to quell that speculation.
”I’m going to say no, because if I say yes, people will make up headlines again, and that’s not what I want,” said the Red Bull driver.
Verstappen then outlined how he has long dreamed of driving for one team over his entire F1 career.
“I always said to the team it would be ideal, and I think they think the same way, to finish off my career in Formula 1 with one team,” added the driver. “I think that would be something amazing, and that’s what we are still trying to achieve.”
What might have been most notable from Verstappen’s comments on Thursday was how he handled the idea that he would be chasing the fastest car on the grid. Much of the speculation over a potential move to Mercedes is rooted in the notion that the Silver Arrows might be on the front foot starting next season. The 2026 campaign brings a host of new technical regulations to the sport, with the potential to shake up the pecking order.
Those incoming regulations include changes to the power unit, as next season there will be a 50/50 split between the internal combustion engine (ICE) and electrical power.
The paddock has been alive with chatter for weeks that Mercedes may have an advantage when these regulations arrive, perhaps due to the dominance they displayed starting in 2014, with the arrival of turbocharged power units. That history, coupled with chatter of impressive test results, has led to the conclusion that Verstappen would favor a move to Mercedes if they truly have the fastest car next season.
But speaking on Thursday, Verstappen highlighted the difficulty in chasing the fastest car.
“That is anyway difficult in Formula 1 to always try to be in the fastest car, because then you have to look into the future. Who would have known that two years ago this would be the case now? That is also something that I don’t really spend a lot of focus on.,” said Verstappen.
“I think the only focus that I have at the moment is just trying to improve the situation.
“We are not where we want to be, I think that’s quite clear, but at the same time, next year a lot can change again. So even if you try to chase the fastest car now, it might not be the fastest car next year.
“That’s exactly what F1 is about. Sometimes you luck in, you win three-four-five-six-seven-eight titles, who knows? That’s also part of the game.”
Speculation over the driver transfer market is also part of the game. And Verstappen’s status as arguably the premier talent on the grid only heightens that speculation.
No matter how hard he tries to tamp down that speculation.
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