Juan Pablo Montoya claims Max Verstappen ‘already’ talking to Mercedes with Red Bull future in doubt
· Yahoo Sports
Juan Pablo Montoya doubts Red Bull can hold on to Max Verstappen much longer, saying their chances beyond the 2026 season are “very slim” and that talks with Mercedes for 2027 are already underway.
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Toto Wolff has made no secret of his admiration for Verstappen, and while Red Bull have so far managed to keep hold of their star driver, Montoya thinks it may just be a matter of time before things change.
Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull runs through 2028, but he had a clause allowing him to leave if he was fourth or lower in the 2025 drivers’ standings by the summer break. That didn’t happen, so Mercedes extended Russell and Antonelli last October.
Russell’s deal isn’t fully locked in yet – he needs to meet certain performance targets to activate his extension for 2027. Meanwhile, Verstappen’s situation could shift as early as next year since he only needs to be third or lower at the 2026 summer break to trigger his release clause.
Red Bull’s odds of keeping Max Verstappen now ‘very slim’
While Wolff recently dismissed any suggestion that Mercedes could bring in Verstappen, stating he is fully committed to Russell and Antonelli, Montoya believes those talks might be happening already. He just doesn’t see a path for Red Bull to hold onto their star driver much longer.
Montoya also pointed out that Red Bull’s efforts to keep Verstappen, such as giving him the green light to compete in other events like the Nurburgring 24 Hours, might not be enough. The 28-year-old used a recent NLS2 race at the Nordschleife as a tune-up ahead of his return to the classic event this May.
Montoya told AS Colombia: “I think Red Bull are in a position where whatever Max wants, they’ll say yes to make sure they don’t lose him.
“Now I actually believe that whatever happens, they’re going to lose him. Max is going to want to be at Mercedes next year… I think that conversation has already started.”
“Last year [their talks] were not even over yet,” Montoya continued. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if the chances of Max being at Red Bull next year are very slim.”
If Verstappen chooses to break ties with Red Bull before his contract expires, there’s now little standing in his way. Although he was leading George Russell by just 15 points at the summer break last season, new performance clauses allow him more flexibility this time around.
This term, with Mercedes already pulling away from the field early on and both Russell and Antonelli sitting first and second in the standings after strong starts in Australia and Shanghai respectively, it wouldn’t take much for Verstappen’s exit clause to come into play.
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