The 2025 Formula 1 grid is beginning to take shape with only seven seats left to fill.
Carlos Sainz is the key to the final drivers falling into place and Kevin Magnussen has already described him as the cork in the bottle in this situation.
However, there is one driver who could dramatically change how the final few pieces of the puzzle fall into place: Max Verstappen.
Mercedes have been chasing Verstappen for months as they try to replace Lewis Hamilton ahead of his move to Ferrari.
Before the Austrian Grand Prix, Toto Wolff admitted in an interview with Sky Sports F1 that a move for Verstappen in 2025 isn’t going to happen, although in Formula 1 you can never say anything for certain.
However, ahead of Sunday’s race, Martin Brundle was asked whether he could ever see Verstappen driving for Mercedes one day.
He admitted during the coverage that an immediate move for the Dutchman was ‘receding’ at this stage.
But that doesn’t mean Verstappen won’t be racing in a Silver Arrow at some point during his career.
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Martin Brundle thinks Max Verstappen has a ‘good chance’ of being a Mercedes driver one day
Asked if could ever see Verstappen at Mercedes, Brundle said: “At some point, I think there’s a good chance of that.
“Nobody’s got the crystal ball even available to them for 2026 yet. But my feeling is… I mean there’s a lot of talk in the paddock that Max [Verstappen] will exit and go to Mercedes next year, I think that’s receding quite a lot.
“Then the question is Kimi Antonelli is really ready to step into that spotlight alongside George [Russell] in the works Mercedes team.
“There’s a lot of plates spinning and a lot of balls up in the air in terms of, we’ve got half a dozen drivers who haven’t yet sat down.
“And obviously Carlos Sainz now is the cork in that bottle, assuming Max of course is going to be at Red Bull.”
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Who could Max Verstappen replace at Mercedes if he leaves Red Bull?
Max Verstappen is not only one of the best drivers on the grid currently but one of the fastest drivers in the history of Formula 1.
He’s on course to win a fourth straight world championship and unlike his last two titles, his Red Bull isn’t leagues ahead of the rest of the grid this year.
However, his racecraft – especially when defending – will continue to be questioned after the contact he had with Lando Norris during the final stages of the Austrian Grand Prix.
That allowed George Russell to earn the second F1 win of his career but he may be wondering whether a move for Verstappen would put his seat at Mercedes in jeopardy.
Ralf Schumacher has recently suggested that if Verstappen did decide to leave Red Bull then he would be the driver sacrificed.
It would be incredibly harsh on Russell especially as the other driver potentially at risk is 17-year-old Kimi Antonelli.
There are incredibly high hopes for the Italian at Mercedes but his maiden campaign in Formula 2 with PREMA isn’t going to plan.
He had another tough weekend in Austria and while he’s impressing in F1 tests behind the scenes, his performance at that level – especially as teammate Oliver Bearman won the Sprint Race – may be creating doubts in Wolff’s head.
In an ideal world, Antonelli would have another year either to impress in F2 or to race further down the Formula 1 grid in 2025 to get up to speed.
However, Mercedes may have no other option but to throw the teenager into the car.
The post ‘My feeling is’: Martin Brundle shares whether he thinks Max Verstappen will ever drive for Mercedes appeared first on F1 Oversteer.
