Why Verstappen should switch to Mercedes in 2026

An important reason for Max Verstappen to stay with Red Bull Racing is his loyalty. The Dutchman is very faithful to the people who have given him opportunities. Red Bull, led by Helmut Marko, gave Max Verstappen his Formula 1 debut and the move to Red Bull Racing. No other team dared to do that back then.

Verstappen's resolve for Marko was once again clear in 2024. At that time Verstappen publicly stood up for Marko to ensure that he could not be fired by Christian Horner.

Despite Marko being at the helm, with Laurent Mekies being the new team boss, Red Bull is starting a new cycle. There are many question marks around the technical team since the departure of Adrian Newey, and Laurent Mekies still has to prove himself as team boss, and Red Bull is making its own engine for the first time in 2026.

The chances of a manufacturer developing the best engine at the first attempt are very small. Add to that the already existing doubts about the technical leadership that let the Red Bull advantage dissolve in a short time in early 2024, and why Verstappen might want to leave the team could be understandable.

The advantage that Verstappen has with Red Bull is that he is the defacto leader. There is no second driver challenging him. The team is built entirely around the Dutchman, who has been active with the team since 2016. It helps him to get the most out of a car every weekend because he knows the car, his mechanics and engineers well.

While there are many questions about the Red Bull engine, a lot is expected from the Mercedes engine. It is said to be the best for 2026, although no one really knows for sure.

However, it does speak in favor of Mercedes that they managed to build the best hybrid engine in 2014 and the Germans did not show interest in V10 engines or asked about adjusting the ratio between the electric side and the combustion engine.

Where competitors Ferrari and Red Bull were indeed keen to do so, the steadfast attitude of Mercedes seemed to indicate great confidence in its own engine.

However, this could also be a reason to wait a bit longer. Nobody knows for sure who has the best car and engine for 2026. In 2026, Verstappen could also wait, and then sign with the best team on the grid for 2027. If that's possible...

That's the big question. Suppose Mercedes indeed builds the best car in combination with the strong engine and becomes world champion. Will George Russell really be dismissed like Damon Hill, to bring a bigger name like Max Verstappen on board?

Experience also shows that teams that become world champions, and especially teams that dominate, do not wait for another driver. They stick to the line-up, knowing they can win both titles with those drivers. A new driver can only disrupt that balance.

For Verstappen, staying at Red Bull could also mean that he might not be able to move to Mercedes for a while. A big gamble, especially if you already know that Red Bull will no longer be successful. There have been questions within Verstappen's camp about the team's performance for quite some time.