In a development that has left even the most die-hard Formula 1 fans speechless, Jos Verstappen, the father of three-time world champion Max Verstappen, was caught secretly meeting with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. The two were seen at a discreet restaurant near Geneva, far from the usual F1 paddocks. What makes this encounter so explosive is not just the timing—in the middle of a turbulent season—but more importantly what happened just 10 minutes later : Jos Verstappen decided to speak out about the conversation.
“I’ll be honest,” Jos began to a Dutch television channel. “We talked about the future. Not just Max’s, but the sport’s in general. Toto had some interesting proposals.”
That statement alone was enough to send rumors raging through the paddock. Fans, analysts, and insiders are now speculating en masse: could Max Verstappen really be leaving Red Bull for Mercedes?
According to sources close to the Verstappen camp, Max has long been dissatisfied with the internal dynamics at Red Bull Racing. The tensions between Max and Red Bull team principal Christian Horner have been a frequent topic of discussion over the past year, and communication with the new technical management has reportedly been “problematic.”
Toto Wolff, never shy about a bold move, seems to have struck at just the right moment. Mercedes is struggling with Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari in 2025 and is urgently looking for a top driver who can bring glory back to Brackley.
What Jos further revealed only fueled speculation: “Max wants to race in an environment where he feels 100% supported. He’s thinking about his heritage, his legacy. And sometimes that means making difficult choices.”
The reaction on social media was overwhelming. Some fans called it a “betrayal,” while others saw it as a necessary step for Max to break away from the increasing political chaos within Red Bull.
While there’s no official confirmation of negotiations between Max Verstappen and Mercedes, the cards seem to have been reshuffled in the Formula 1 landscape. If this secret meeting is the start of a real transfer bombshell, Verstappen’s move to Mercedes could become the most high-profile team change since Schumacher left Benetton.
