Toto Wolff and George Russell have both indicated that Mercedes are holding talks with Verstappen. And the reigning world champion has repeatedly refused to state outright that he’ll be racing for Red Bull next year.

A move remains unlikely, but it is possible. There’s also a chance that Verstappen is negotiating with Mercedes for 2027, giving them the chance to display their speed under the new regulations.

Verstappen has scored more podiums for Red Bull than Michael Schumacher did for Ferrari (117 vs 116). Emotionally, it would be difficult to leave the team, even if they haven’t consistently furnished him with a contending car for the past year or so.

Max Verstappen told he wouldn’t be as dominant against his teammates at Mercedes

Speaking on the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast, Verstappen’s former teammate Alex Albon predicted how he would fare if he changed teams. Albon spent 18 months alongside the Dutchman from the midpoint of 2019 to the end of 2020.

While he’d naturally be ‘very quick’ everywhere, Albon doesn’t think he’d dominate his teammates as much as he has at Red Bull. Since Daniel Ricciardo left at the end of 2018, Verstappen has outscored the sister car by over 1,300 points.

Verstappen would likely partner Kimi Antonelli, one of the youngest F1 drivers ever, if he joined Mercedes. But Red Bull have built their car around his preferences for years, and the unfamiliarity of the Silver Arrow could be an equalising factor.

Albon said: “In F1, it is easy for everyone to fall into the trap of: ‘All the drivers are at the same level all the time, and there is no such thing as suiting a car or not suiting a car.’

“And I think that for the same reason why you’re seeing so many drivers struggle up against Max, just flip the script and put Max in a different car, I think he’d still be very quick, don’t get me wrong about that. But I don’t think you’re going to see the same gaps that you see that he’s putting on his teammates now.

“And for the same reason, some drivers it clicks, some drivers it doesn’t. I remember my first lap in a Williams, despite being down on downforce considerably to what I was used to, it still clicks.

“And don’t forget that my six-month stint in Toro Rosso at the time was strong as well. And it just swings.”

Alex Albon baffled by talk that George Russell could lose Mercedes seat

Albon also mounted a passionate defence of Russell, who faces a small risk of losing his seat. He’s stunned that there’s even a question over his future given that he beat Lewis Hamilton in 2024 and is ‘pretty convincingly’ ahead of Antonelli.

If anything, Albon says his former F2 rival deserves a pay rise in recognition of his status as one of ‘the top three drivers on the grid’. Russell’s recent win in Canada was the fourth of his F1 career.

“George is somehow underrated,” said Albon. “I don’t know a driver who can beat a seven-time world champion and still be not sure of a seat. He’s having a fantastic year this year as well.

“As much as Kimi’s getting praise, George is still beating him pretty convincingly. Even if he wasn’t my friend, I’d still be saying the same words.

“I hope the delay’s coming from him asking for the money. If he is, he deserves it! I think George is one of the most adaptable drivers on the grid, and wherever he ends up being, he should be considered at least one of the top three drivers on the grid.”