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Max Verstappen’s options for a potential Red Bull exit have taken a significant hit, with Mercedes reportedly ending their interest in the reigning world champion. According to Motorsport.com, the Silver Arrows are set to secure George Russell’s services with a lucrative deal worth $30 million (£22.5 million) per year, effectively shutting the door on a future Verstappen switch.
Lawrence Stroll’s Aston Martin project could offer Verstappen a compelling package both competitively and financially. Rumors suggest a record-breaking deal worth as much as £1 billion ($1.3 billion) could be on the table if the Dutchman chooses to align himself with the ambitious outfit.
As the Red Bull camp struggles to rediscover its pace and unity, Verstappen faces a narrowing set of options. With Mercedes officially out of the picture and his patience at Red Bull being tested, all eyes are now on whether Aston Martin can present a convincing enough vision for the future — one that could persuade the world champion to make the leap.
Throughout much of the 2024 Formula 1 season, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was closely monitoring Verstappen’s situation. The Dutch driver had been linked with a move away from Red Bull amid internal tensions and performance issues, with Mercedes viewed as one of the most viable landing spots should he choose to leave. Wolff even explored the possibility of bringing Verstappen in as a replacement for the departing Lewis Hamilton.
However, Verstappen, now 27, ultimately chose to stay loyal to Red Bull, cooling the speculative flames surrounding his departure. Mercedes’ interest, once intense, now appears to have faded completely, with the team turning their attention to a future built around George Russell and rookie talent Kimi Antonelli.
The 18-year-old Antonelli, who joined the F1 grid this season, has been turning heads with his raw speed and rapid adaptation to Formula 1 machinery. Meanwhile, Russell has continued to deliver strong performances, outqualifying one of the McLaren drivers twice and securing three podium finishes early in the season. Wolff is reportedly satisfied with the chemistry between the two drivers and is reluctant to upset the balance by adding another high-profile name to the mix.
This development comes at a crucial time for Verstappen, who is reportedly facing a difficult period at Red Bull. A disappointing performance at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix highlighted the current struggles. Verstappen qualified a disappointing seventh and dropped to the back of the field before recovering to sixth place. Despite a mid-race safety car, he finished more than 34 seconds off the race winner and collected just eight points, falling further behind McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the championship standings.
The RB21 has proven to be a handful, with inconsistent performance across different tyre compounds and a tendency for mid-corner instability. Verstappen even found himself in an on-track scrap with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, a rare sight for a driver so used to dominating at the front.
Amid Red Bull’s slump, speculation has intensified around a “competitiveness clause” in Verstappen’s contract, which reportedly allows him to leave the team if he falls outside the top three in the driver standings. While this could open the door for a mid-contract move, his potential destinations are rapidly dwindling.
With Mercedes seemingly locking in their driver lineup through 2028, Verstappen’s most likely alternative now appears to be Aston Martin. The Silverstone-based outfit is set to run Honda power units from 2026 — a familiar name for Verstappen — and their cars will be designed by Adrian Newey, one of the most successful technical minds in F1 and a key architect of Verstappen’s success at Red Bull.
