The swirling speculation around Max Verstappen’s potential move to Mercedes has received another spark courtesy of none other than Nelson Piquet Jr, the brother of the Dutchman’s partner Kelly Piquet.
The former Renault F1 driver suggested recently that Verstappen is only just a few contract details away from sealing a bombshell deal to drive for Mercedes in the future.
Speaking on the Pelas Pistas podcast with host Thiago Alves, Piquet Jr. discussed Verstappen’s challenging performance at the British Grand Prix last time out. However, it was his offhand comments about Verstappen’s future that stole the spotlight.
“Who knows next year, with Max there…” Piquet Jr. said, catching Alves off guard. He doubled down, stating, “They are talking, everyone knows, right?”
In an even more eye-opening comment, the Brazilian confirmed that discussions between his brother-in-law and Mercedes had moved into advanced territory.
“Just missing final contract details,” he revealed. “But everyone knows that it’s an option. They are talking.”
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While there had been speculation that Verstappen might consider a sabbatical in 2026 to weigh his options amid Red Bull’s internal uncertainty, Piquet shut that theory down firmly: “He will be on the grid in 2026.”
“Until August, he needs to have made a decision, they will either get the final details right or not,” Piquet Jr. said. “But I think it would be pretty cool.”
When Alves asked if he meant switching teams or staying, Piquet’s answer was unequivocal: “To switch.”
Berger: Red Bull Must Act Fast to Stop the Slide
Amid the growing uncertainty surrounding Verstappen’s future, former F1 driver Gerhard Berger has urged Red Bull to take swift and serious action to keep its star driver and stabilize a team he says is “clearly in a downward spiral.”
‘’You could see it was heading this way with Red Bull Racing. If Horner was truly surprised by this, that’s a bad sign, because even as an outsider, you could foresee it,” Berger told Kronen Zeitung, referencing recent turbulence between team leadership and Verstappen’s camp.
‘’The most important thing right now is to stabilise the whole team and reintegrate Verstappen into it. Red Bull Racing is clearly in a downward spiral – the goal now should be to rebuild this team effectively.’’
With Piquet Jr. indicating an August deadline for a decision, the pressure is now squarely on Red Bull to convince Verstappen to stay put. If his insider comments are to be believed, it may already be too late – and the three-time world champion could soon be headed for a stunning new chapter in silver.
The next few weeks could prove pivotal for the entire F1 grid.
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