Max Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 Formula 1 season. Despite recent rumors, speculation about a possible move for Verstappen to Mercedes has decreased. During the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, there were talks about Verstappen joining Mercedes in 2025, but he publicly expressed his loyalty to Red Bull.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff still holds hope despite Verstappen’s rejection of Mercedes. Wolff believes that certain factors, such as core values, could influence the current world champion to sign with Mercedes. Verstappen’s current contract with Red Bull extends until the end of the 2028 F1 season. While he is content with how things are unfolding under the current regulations, he is concerned about the controversies surrounding Red Bull.
While Wolff remains hopeful in the Verstappen-Mercedes saga, his team had a disastrous outing at the 2024 Australian Grand Prix. One driver retired from the race due to an engine issue, while the other crashed on the final lap. As a result, the Brackley-based team left Melbourne without scoring any points. Currently, Mercedes sits in fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, with only 26 points, with Aston Martin close behind with 25 points.
The Mercedes W15 car has several issues that the team is actively addressing. The upcoming Japanese Grand Prix will be a test for the Mercedes duo as they tackle the challenging Suzuka circuit. It will be intriguing to see how they fare against these challenges.