Max Vಌerstappen won’t leave Red Bull for Merc🔥edes 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 will go to Ferrari next year.

The furore at Red Bull behind-the-sc🦹enes - which now looks set to include Adrian Newey’s exit - has giv𝔍en Mercedes hope of poaching Verstappen.

“I wouldn’t leave a car that’s winning,” F1 tech expert Alb🐲ert Fabrega 𝔍told the F1 Nation podcast when asked about Verstappen.

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

“But if I was Max Verstappen? I wouldn’t leave 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 𝐆to win a championship. He’s in a winning team 💟with a winning car and with winning momentum.

“Why would you change that?

“Moving to a team that, toda♚yꦬ, is fighting for fifth or sixth position?”

Tom꧒ Clarkson, the FIA 𒐪press conference host, replied: “I think he knows that.

“There’s nothing in his body language, ꦛor anything that comes out of his mouth, that makes me think he’s abo🌱ut to leave Red Bull.

“And even he was saying ‘I am happier in this car than I was last yea෴r’.”

But in 2026 the new F1 regulations 𓆏will come 𓃲into effect.

And, the future of Newey c𝓰ould have a 🉐serious impact.

Chief technical officer Newey is expected to leave Red Bull and couꦍld end up at a rival team, with Mercedes among those who would surely꧃ be keen.

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

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