Max Verstappen<\/a> is at the centre of discussions this season, despite the fact that he has a long-term contract that runs until 2028.<\/p>\n Red Bull<\/a> will be desperate to keep Verstappen, as without him, they would be struggling near the bottom of the constructors\u2019 championship<\/a>.<\/p>\n Position Drivers’ Championship PointsPts 1 234 2 226 3 165 4 147 5 119 6 103 7 63 8 46 9 37 10 23 <\/p>\n Christian Horner was removed by Red Bull after the British Grand Prix<\/a>, but it\u2019s yet to be seen what impact that will have on the Dutchman\u2019s decision-making.<\/p>\n Mercedes have been heavily linked with signing Verstappen<\/a>, although team principal Toto Wolff<\/a> has distanced himself from a move for the four-time world champion this year, without ruling it out entirely.<\/p>\n However, that doesn\u2019t mean that the story is over, with Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kallenius potentially getting ready to have his say on the team\u2019s driver line-up for 2026.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen\u2019s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend<\/a><\/p>\n A report from Autosport Web<\/a> has shared more details about the thinking behind the scenes at the Brackley-based team.<\/p>\n Both George Russell<\/a> and Andrea Kimi Antonelli<\/a> are out of contract at the end of the season.<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s widely believed that Antonelli has options in his current deal that make an extension relatively easy to negotiate.<\/p>\n Russell has been Mercedes\u2019 star driver this year, stepping up to replace Hamilton expertly after his move to Ferrari.<\/p>\n However, it\u2019s taking a long time for Russell and Mercedes to come to an agreement, and that\u2019s because they don\u2019t agree on the terms of his next deal.<\/p>\n TEAMDRIVER 1DRIVER 2AlpinePierre GaslyN\/AAston MartinFernando AlonsoLance StrollAudiGabriel BortoletoNico HulkenbergCadillacN\/AN\/AFerrariCharles LeclercLewis HamiltonHaasEsteban OconOliver BearmanMcLarenLando NorrisOscar PiastriMercedesN\/AN\/ARacing BullsN\/AN\/ARed Bull RacingMax VerstappenN\/AWilliamsAlex AlbonCarlos Sainz2026 confirmed F1 drivers<\/p>\n Russell is believed to want a three-year contract and a \u2018significant\u2019 salary increase, while Mercedes only want to offer him a one-year agreement.<\/p>\n The report from Autosport Web goes on to say that Kallenius is now \u2018pressuring the team to sign Verstappen as soon as possible\u2019 because he wants the best driver possible in Mercedes\u2019 line-up for 2026.<\/p>\n Wolff is happy working with Russell and Antonelli, and in the Italian teenager, he believes he has a \u2018future championship driver\u2019, while he\u2019s also convinced that Mercedes will make a \u2018significant technological advantage from 2026 onwards\u2019, which negates the need to sign Verstappen.<\/p>\n It\u2019s yet to be seen whether Wolff will get his way, or if Kallenius will pull rank and go all-out to sign the 27-year-old.<\/p>\n READ MORE: All you need to know about Mercedes F1 Team from team principal to lineage<\/a><\/p>\n One of the other important factors when it comes to Verstappen potentially joining Mercedes is his relationship with the Dutchman\u2019s camp.<\/p>\n Wolff tried to sign Verstappen in 2020<\/a>, but the following season strained any relationship that existed between the Mercedes team principal and the four-time world champion\u2019s team.<\/p>\n![\"Mercedes](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2219518364-1-1024x731.jpg\")
Photo by Artur Widak\/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesMercedes CEO still wants to sign Max Verstappen after hearing George Russell\u2019s contract demands<\/p>\n![\"Mercedes](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2219683185-1-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Stefano Facchin\/Alessio Morgese \/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesToto Wolff still has a fractious relationship with Max Verstappen\u2019s camp<\/p>\n