Wednesday\u2019s fast-paced F1 news includes a significant breakthrough in Max Verstappen\u2019s proposed move to Mercedes and claims of a \u201cheated\u201d row between Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s charge through the day\u2019s main headlines at breakneck speed\u2026<\/p>\n
Max Verstappen deal approved by Mercedes chief?<\/p>\n
Ola Kallenius, the Mercedes chief executive, has reportedly approved the team\u2019s move for Red Bull driver Max Verstappen for the F1 2026 season.<\/p>\n
Verstappen has been heavily linked with a Mercedes despite being officially under contract with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 campaign.<\/p>\n
Mr Kallenius, who is said to have been a key figure behind Mercedes\u2019 attempts to recruit Verstappen, is reported to have given the deal the green light.<\/p>\n
Read more:\u00a0Max Verstappen to Mercedes gets \u2018green light\u2019 as new \u2018biggest obstacle\u2019 emerges \u2013 report<\/a><\/p>\n Ralf Schumacher: Christian Horner had \u2018heated\u2019 argument with Jos Verstappen during British GP<\/p>\n Christian Horner had a \u201cheated\u201d argument with Jos Verstappen during his last race weekend as Red Bull team principal at the British Grand Prix.<\/p>\n That is the claim of former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, who says the father of Max Verstappen was left \u201canything but happy with the situation\u201d at Silverstone.<\/p>\n Horner was \u2018released\u2019 by Red Bull last week after more than 20 years in charge of the Milton Keynes-based team.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0Horner embroiled in \u2018heated\u2019 row with Jos Verstappen during last race \u2013 report claims<\/a><\/p>\n Jolyon Palmer leaps to Oscar Piastri\u2019s defence after controversial penalty<\/p>\n Jolyon Palmer, the former Renault F1 driver, is adamant that Oscar Piastri did nothing out of the ordinary before being hit with a costly penalty at the British Grand Prix.<\/p>\n Piastri was hit with a 10-second time penalty for driving erratically while leading behind the Safety Car at Silverstone, with team-mate Lando Norris going on to take victory.<\/p>\n Piastri, whose championship lead has been reduced to eight points, cut a frustrated figure at the end of the race.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0New Piastri penalty evidence revealed after Verstappen brake pressure analysed\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Sky F1 pundit Jenson Button to walk away from WEC \u2013 but retirement ruled out<\/p>\n Jenson Button, the 2009 F1 World Champion and Sky F1 pundit, has announced that he will leave the World Endurance Championship at the end of 2025.<\/p>\n But the 45-year-old has insisted that he will not retire from motorsport, opening the door to a potential part-time racing program for the 2026 season.<\/p>\n Button claimed his first podium finish of the 2025 WEC season by finishing second at Interlagos, the venue where he clinched the 2009 F1 title, last weekend.<\/p>\n