Schumacher is certain: 'Verstappen and Mercedes will talk'

Red Bull Racing is currently not where it wants to be. With the major regulation change starting from 2026 in mind, Ralf Schumacher thinks that if the Austrian team does not manage to turn the tide, Max Verstappen will take his leave.

"Red Bull needs to make a comeback, otherwise Verstappen will be gone by the end of the year", said Ralf Schumacher to F1-Insider. "My favorite is Mercedes - even though Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff currently denies any public interest in signing Verstappen."

There will definitely be talks between Mercedes and Verstappen

"But he has to do that to not unsettle his current two drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli", the German continued. "But if you can get a driver like Max who makes the difference, you must do everything to get him. I am therefore certain that there will soon be talks between Mercedes and the Verstappen camp", mentioned Schumacher.

Franz Tost, the former team principal of Toro Rosso, would pay a lot of money to bring in Verstappen. "Verstappen has three tenths advantage. It would cost tens of millions in development costs to make a car three tenths faster. The decision-makers know that too", said the Austrian.