Horner tried to bat away the rumours

FANS are convinced Max Verstappen will jump ship from Red Bull to Mercedes after watching Christian Horner’s gloomy interview.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff sensationally confirmed on Friday that his team have held behind closed doors talks with the four-time world champion.

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Red Bull boss Christian Horner was asked about Mercedes’ fascinating comments about Max Verstappen’s future
And after Verstappen finished P7 in qualifying in Red Bull’s home race in Austria, Horner was asked about Wolff’s incredible admission.

Horner, who promoted Verstappen to F1 in May 2016, tried to play-down the ongoing speculation linking the Dutchman with Mercedes.

The British team principal told Sky Sports: “It’s a lot of noise. I think Max gets quite annoyed by it and we’re very clear with the contract that we have with Max until 2028.

“Anything is entirely speculative that is being said, but yeah we tend not to pay too much attention to it.”

Wolff said ahead of qualifying, where George Russell secured fifth place, that there was “very little probability” of Verstappen joining Mercedes – at least not for 2026.

Russell, meanwhile, is still waiting for a contract extension, with the winner of the Canadian Grand Prix a fortnight ago having emerged as a reported target for Aston Martin.

Horner cheekily added: “I can imagine that George is frustrated he hasn’t been given a contract yet. But that’s between him and his team.

“But the situation with Max we know clearly where we’re at and obviously as does Max, so everything is subject to noise and within any contract it remains confidential between the parties.”

But fans have been left unconvinced with Horner’s attempts to dismiss Verstappen’s exit rumours as baseless paddock gossip.

One wrote on X: “After that interview with Horner, it’s so obvious that Max is going to join Mercedes.”

A second said: “Somehow this interview with Horner is not convincing me everything is well and jolly behind the RB curtain.”

Another added: “Horner sounds like a beaten man.”

Verstappen is contracted with the Milton Keynes-based outfit until 2028 but is understood to have clauses in his contract that could result in an earlier departure.

Wolff has long targeted a move for Verstappen, before picking rookie Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement during the off-season.

Russell, who is out of contract at the end of the season, was the first to say his team have been talking to Verstappen about signing a deal for 2026.

The Brit, 27, also suggested on Thursday that his contract talks had been delayed by the ongoing talks with Dutchman.

Pushed on whether he would set a deadline for Verstappen to decide on joining Mercedes, Wolff confirmed “conversations behind closed doors” were ongoing.

Wolff said: “You make it sound like we have been asking, ‘when do you want to join and what are the terms?’ That’s not how it is and how it works.

“I want to just have the conversations behind closed doors, not town halls.

“We have two drivers that have been in our programme a long time, drivers that I’m perfectly happy to have, drivers that will do great in the future of the team. So, it’s a bit different a situation.”

Meanwhile, Horner could consider replacing Yuki Tsunoda with Racing Bulls youngster Isack Hadjar, as the Japanese star suffered Red Bull’s worst-ever qualifying position at their home turf, after finishing 18th.

Lando Norris took a dominant pole position in Austria, as late yellow flag drama left championship leader Oscar Piastri third, with Charles Leclerc making up the front row.

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Wolff has confirmed his interest in signing four-time world champ Verstappen