Helmut Marko lays down the law as Verstappen eyes Mercedes: “There’s one thing you simply can’t do – not while wearing Red Bull colours” .In a tense moment behind the scenes, the Red Bull advisor confronts Verstappen over growing Mercedes rumours – and draws a firm line in the sand.

Max Verstappen is the subject of one of the biggest stories in the Formula 1 paddock after reports suggested that he had held talks with Mercedes.

But a move to the Silver Arrows ahead of the 2026 F1 regulations has not been confirmed, and a deal has not yet been done.

Verstappen has a job to do, albeit a very difficult one, if he wants to win a fifth consecutive drivers’ championship in 2025.

He needs his Red Bull team to deliver some effective upgrades, and hope that McLaren are held up by some of their rivals if they are to perform a sizeable miracle.

German outlet Bild reports that Verstappen is ‘almost certain’ to join Mercedes, which could leave Kimi Antonelli or George Russell without a seat.

Ralf Bach also believes that Verstappen’s ‘Plan A’ is to join Mercedes in 2026, which would represent a change in heart over his recent stance. Perhaps things have changed?

Photo by Jayce Illman/Getty Images

Helmut Marko tells Max Verstappen he ‘can’t’ sign for Mercedes amid rumours

Verstappen would have to pay to break his contract, according to Red Bull insiders, and it could cost in excess of £100 million to do so.

Rushing to make a move now might not be the wisest of decisions, and could backfire. No one knows what the order will look like next year.

And the 27-year-old might be aware of this. Verstappen has pulled off a genius move, with The Race suggesting that he’s unlikely to leave Red Bull before 2027.

The team’s advisor and close friend to the four-time champion, Helmut Marko, has reminded him of his inability to exit via Kleine Zeitung.

“He hasn’t signed and he can’t,” he said. “It’s just getting annoying now. The same questions keep coming up, and we keep giving the same answers, because nothing has changed in the initial situation.

Why the British Grand Prix is perfectly timed for Max Verstappen and Red Bull

A Verstappen move would be one of the craziest moves in the sport’s history and completely shake up the Formula 1 driver market. The British Grand Prix couldn’t be arriving at a better time.

It offers them a chance to redeem themselves for a poor performance at their home race in Austria last time out, and answer any questions about Verstappen’s future.

He seems to like racing at Silverstone and usually does well there, but the track suits the McLaren cars more than ever this year.

It’s also one of Lewis Hamilton’s favourites, and he’s arriving with an upgrade that Ferrari just confirmed does work.

There’s going to be a lot of heat to face this weekend, and it could turn out to be one of the most fascinating races of the year.