Mercedes is reportedly planning a move for Max Verstappen and there have been rumors that negotiations between the two parties will take place at the Miami Grand Prix.
According to reports, Mercedes is set to pay Max Verstappen a record-breaking salary that would more than cover Lewis Hamilton’s contract at Ferrari amid rumors the Dutchman is considering an audacious departure from Red Bull, and the Silver Arrows are believed to be considering signing him.
Verstappen’s long-term future with the reigning champions is currently under serious doubt in light of Adrian Newey’s recent announcement of his desire to walk away from Red Bull.
He is contracted until the end of 2028, but if Red Bull fails to resolve their internal conflicts, there have been reports that the triple-world champion might consider leaving early.
According to OE24, Mercedes are willing to spend a lot of money for Verstappen’s signing as they are well known to be his ardent admirers and they’re preparing a world-record offer that would see the Dutchman earning around £128 million a season.
This amount would more than double Verstappen’s current salary at Red Bull with, making him the highest-paid driver in F1 history. Additionally, the 26-year-old would make almost three times as much as Hamilton, who is set to receive a basic salary of £43.6 million from Ferrari each season.
According to the report, Mercedes would also attempt to persuade Helmut Marko to join them to make Verstappen feel more comfortable once he arrives. Multiple reports claim the latter has a clause in his Red Bull contract that would allow him to walk away before 2028 if Marko leaves.
Mercedes and Verstappen are reportedly scheduled to hold talks at this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix. Toto Wolff has expressed his desire to sweep Verstappen away from Red Bull, but it is unclear if the Silver Arrows will be able to pull off the move.
“There’s so many factors that play a role for a driver joining,” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said recently. “Clearly, when you look at it from the most rational point of view, you can say ‘Well, that’s the quickest car in the hands of the quickest driver’.
“But I don’t think that this is the only reason you stay where you are. I think, let’s say, for simple minds that might be the only reason why you stay in a car and that’s it.
“Maybe there is more depth to other people who consider other factors too and I think Max has depth. In that respect are we going to convince him? I don’t think it’s a matter of convincing.
“I think Max knows motor racing better than anyone and he will take decisions that he feels are good for him and I think a few factors play a role but he’s the one that’s going to trigger some more domino stones to fall afterwards.
“Everybody’s waiting for what he’s going to be doing. If I was Max, I would stay at Red Bull for 2025, but I’m not Max. It is the quickest car, but there are other factors.”
It’s believed that the complex and ever-developing situations have caused uncertainty at the Red Bull camp.
This uncertainty has been exacerbated by concerns about Red Bull’s capacity to maintain its F1 dominance in the upcoming cycle of power units and chassis regulations in 2026 and Mercedes is looking to cash in on these tensions.
