Max Ver꧙stappen won’t leave Red Bull for Mercedes next year but 2026 represents a fresh opportunity, it has been predicted.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has placed Verstappen at the top of his wish-list to replace Lewis Hamilton, who wi🍸ll go to Ferrari next year.

🍸The furore at Red Bull behi💮nd-the-scenes - which now looks set to include Adrian Newey’s exit - has given Mercedes hope of poaching Verstappen.

“I wouldn’t leave a car that’s winning,” F1 tech expert Albert Fabrega told the F1 Nation podcast when asked abo😼ut 🉐Verstappen.

“It’s a chess game 𝐆that is playing on the table, with a lot of factors and a lot of drivers involved☂.

“But if I was Max Verstappen? I wouldn’t lea🥂ve the seat of a car that, I guess, in 2025 is going to be the winning car.

“If you asked me the same question about 2026?

“Then I’m not sure. I will not put any money…

“But for me… 2025, Max will stay.

“He knows how difficult it is to win a championship. He’s in a winℱning team with a winning car and with winning momentum.

“Why would you change that?

“Mo♐ving to a team that, today, is fighting for fifth or sixth position?”

Tom Clarkson, the ꦗFIA press conference host, replied: “I think he knows that.

“There’s nothing in his body language, or anything that comes oꦰut of his mouth, that makes me think he’s abou🎉t to leave Red Bull.

“A𝔉nd even he was saying ‘I am happier in this car than I was last year’.”

But in 2026 the new F1 regulations will come into e﷽ffect.

And, the fut𓆏ure of Newey could have a serious impa🧸ct.

Chief♉ technical officer Newey is expected to leave Red Bull and could end up at a rival team, with Mercedes among those who would surely be kee🐼n.

Newey’s brains are behind the cars that Verstappen has driven to his three championships so far, an𒐪d the RB20 which is set to give him a fourth.

Wolff, speaking before the news of Newey’s exit, spokeꦯ about “other factors” that could determine Ver𝓀stappen’s future beyond the brilliance of his 2024 car.