Mercedes submits request for Verstappen as Red Bull skips crucial shakedown
Mercedes have reportedly made a formal request involving Max Verstappen, adding another intriguing twist to an already tense build-up ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, while Red Bull have raised eyebrows by skipping a crucial early shakedown of their new machinery.
According to sources close to the situation, Mercedes executives have submitted a request aimed at facilitating Verstappen’s participation in an off-calendar endurance racing appearance, believed to be linked to his long-stated ambition to compete in the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The move is notable given Verstappen’s long-standing association with Red Bull, but it reflects Mercedes’ growing involvement in the GT racing project he is aligned with.
Verstappen has been vocal about his desire to expand his racing portfolio beyond Formula 1, particularly in endurance and GT racing. However, regulatory hurdles and scheduling conflicts have previously blocked any serious attempt. Mercedes’ intervention is understood to be an effort to ease those restrictions by requesting flexibility from series organisers and governing bodies, a step that has surprised many within the F1 paddock.
While the request does not directly involve a transfer or contractual change, it has inevitably fuelled speculation about Verstappen’s long-term future, especially as 2026 ushers in a radical overhaul of F1’s technical regulations. Mercedes are widely viewed as one of the teams best positioned for the new power unit era, and any move that aligns them more closely with Verstappen, even indirectly, will attract attention.
Meanwhile, Red Bull have taken a contrasting approach during pre-season preparations by opting to skip a planned private shakedown of their 2026 prototype. The Milton Keynes outfit had initially scheduled the running to gather early data on their first in-house power unit, developed in partnership with Ford. However, the session was quietly cancelled, with Red Bull citing internal development timelines and a desire to focus resources on simulation work.
The decision has raised questions across the paddock, particularly as rivals such as Mercedes and Ferrari have already begun early validation runs. Shakedowns are viewed as critical under the new regulations, allowing teams to identify reliability issues before the limited official testing windows begin.
Red Bull insist there is no cause for concern, stressing that the skipped session does not indicate underlying problems. Team insiders maintain that their development programme remains on schedule and that alternative testing methods are providing sufficient feedback.
Nonetheless, the timing of Mercedes’ request regarding Verstappen and Red Bull’s reduced on-track running has not gone unnoticed. With Verstappen central to Red Bull’s success over recent seasons, any suggestion of shifting dynamics—whether sporting or political—will naturally attract scrutiny.
As Formula 1 edges closer to the 2026 reset, the early manoeuvring off the track is proving almost as compelling as the engineering battle on it. Mercedes’ proactive approach and Red Bull’s measured restraint underline how differently the sport’s top teams are positioning themselves for the next era, with Max Verstappen once again at the centre of the conversation.
