P1racenews AI automatic summary:
“But his management and his father, who has been in F1 for a long time himself, already know where he is going. So I really think it will be Mercedes.”
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes Max Verstappen will eventually leave Red Bull to join Mercedes, as Verstappen’s F1 future is a hot topic in the media. Mercedes, previously interested in signing Verstappen, is now rumored to be seriously considering the move. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli’s contracts expiring this year could pave the way for Verstappen to join Mercedes. While Russell has shown remarkable performance in 2025, a Verstappen-Russell duo could present challenges. Schumacher insists Verstappen needs to change teams to succeed in F1, hinting at a potential move to Mercedes for the talented Dutch driver. Verstappen’s camp is well-informed about his next destination, with Schumacher speculating that the switch to Mercedes is likely despite Verstappen’s strong ties to Red Bull.
