A Mercedes contract could be “on the table” for Max Verstappen if he decides to walk away from Red Bull, according to a leading expert. F1 commentator Mark Gallagher has claimed that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff could dust up a deal for the four-time champion if the Red Bull car proves to be uncompetitive this year.
Wolff has long chased Verstappen’s signature, with the Silver Arrows chief previously admitting he regretted not scooping up the F1 ace earlier in his career. Rumours intensified last season after Verstappen was photographed with Wolff on the Austrian’s yacht in Sardinia over the summer break.
He said: “I think the speculation is driven by several factors. First of all, the media love to speculate. Secondly, when you see someone like George Russell on a shorter-term arrangement at Mercedes, you can only assume there may be something on the table for Max if the Red Bull proves uncompetitive this year.
“For me, Max is the most complete driver in Formula One. The fact that he lost the championship by just two points to Lando is incredible, especially considering he didn’t always have the fastest car.
“He delivered extraordinary performances on so many occasions and really knocked it out of the park last year on so many occasions last year and didn’t even have the fastest car, and all of the rest of it. He is a formidable competitor, and he will squeeze absolutely everything from that Red Bull. I must say, the car looks purposeful. If a car goes as well as it looks, then it could be very interesting.”
Verstappen had a mixed start to the 2026 season at the opening Grand Prix in Melbourne. The Dutchman crashed out of qualifying and was forced to start near the back of the grid, but mounted a comeback to finish P6 as team-mate Isack Hadjar suffered a mechanical failure.
Any decision is likely to hinge on Verstappen’s chances to compete for titles in the new Red Bull, and the early signs were positive at Albert Park with Verstappen and Hadjar troubling the pacesetters.
However, the four-time champion still feels Mercedes are the pacesetters despite admitting he was “not concerned” by the deficit. Red Bull Powertrains were debuting their new Ford power unit in round one, with the package likely to develop as the season progresses.
Mark added: “It’s an intriguing design. It’s the first real chapter of the post-Newey and Horner era, so it feels like not just a new chapter but a new volume in Red Bull’s story. It’s going to be fascinating to see how that unfolds.”
