Amid all the Mercedes move rumors, Max Verstappen recently suggested that there is no reason to move away from Red Bull as they have the fastest car, and that’s all he can ask for. But the Monaco GP and the Red Bull’s form in the last couple of races might give Verstappen something to think about. And with Christian Horner and Co’s Monaco blunders, Toto Wolff might be in the prime seat to sign the Dutchman. But how exactly?

Moving away from a dominant team to a major competitor before the new regulations isn’t unheard of in F1. Lewis Hamilton did it in 2013 and is set to do so again in 2025. The Turbo Hybrid era move brought him 6 championships. Hence, it’s very likely for Max Verstappen to make a move along the same lines. And Toto Wolff is already actively working to get the Dutchman to sign for the Silver Arrows.

The question in Max Verstappen’s mind must be if Red Bull knows what’s up with their car. Ever since Adrian Newey announced his departure before Miami, Red Bull just doesn’t seem to know what’s wrong with the car. Verstappen lost in Miami, came within a second of losing the race in Imola, and is struggling massively at Monaco. The Dutchman was seen complaining about the balance of the car, not having power, and the suspension is too stiff making the car jump around like a kangaroo. The RB20 just isn’t speaking to Verstappen anymore.

Explaining the situation after the practice, Max Verstappen said, “I don’t think I can describe what is going on. It’s difficult, but not what I did not expect. The worst possible outcome of the weekend. The bumps, kerbs and camber changes, we loose a lot of laptime, as the car struggles to drive. We don’t have a clear direction. These things we can’t change with set-up, ’cause it’s how the car is made.”

And to counter Verstappen’s performance statement, Mercedes were the dominant team when the new engine regulations were introduced in 2014. Looking at the rumors around the 2026 engine development, Mercedes seems to have an advantage on Red Bull Power Trains. If Mercedes is able to showcase some performance in the upcoming races and catch up to the leading pack, they will surely be in the prime seat to get Verstappen over to Brackley. 

Toto Wolff himself came out recently to suggest that their car isn’t good enough to lure Max Verstappen but there is potential if they improve.

McLaren-like jump for Mercedes is crucial to get Max Verstappen 

At the start of 2023, McLaren was at the back of the grid. The team knew what was wrong with their car, fixed it with upgrades, and put themselves next to Red Bull. Currently, they probably have the best car on the grid with Red Bull struggling with grip and other issues. This just goes to show how much time there is to gain if the team gets it right. And that is exactly what Toto Wolff is planning to do—get things right and get back to the top. 

Speaking about what Mercedes needs to get Max Verstappen to consider the move, Toto Wolff said, “Max is not going to get in a car that is not competitive, and at the moment we are not competitive enough to lure a world champion. But we have to see how the next months go. Look at McLaren. If we can put four-tenths on the car, we will be very competitive. I have to wait for the moment. There is no urgency.”

Do you think Max Verstappen will move away from Red Bull and sign with Mercedes?