Max Verstappen has been linked with Mercedes.
The speculations started after George Russell revealed that his own contract extension was being held up at Mercedes.
Meanwhile, Verstappen's contract at Red Bull is until 2028 but is understood to have clauses in his contract that could enable him to leave the team earlier.
Amid the speculations, several X accounts have been sharing screenshots of Verstappen's and Toto Wolff's possible meetup in Sardinia.
X accounts have spotted that currently both the Red Bull star and the Mercedes CEO are in Sardinia.
Meanwhile, amid the speculations, Ralf Schumacher has shared his thoughts.
"It’s quite simple. If he does stay, I don’t think it’ll be just for 2026 – he’d stay beyond that. Otherwise, I believe he’ll announce a move this year. I think that announcement will come after the summer break," he declared.
"An announcement that he’s leaving, yes. I think it’s pretty clear what Max wants. And GT3 is something he’s passionate about. Mercedes is also launching a new car in that category soon, so... Right now, it doesn’t feel like the odds are great for him staying.
"I think on Sunday, it hit him that even he can’t save this anymore – and that really affected him. After the race, it was obvious to me. And once you feel like something is beyond saving, it’s hard to come back from that.
"But as I said, there’s still time until the summer break. I’m sure that’s when he’ll announce his decision. It’s no coincidence either that this week, two yachts are cruising off Sardinia – one belongs to Toto Wolff, the other to Max Verstappen. And from what I hear, there’s a good chance they might have had a coffee together.
"But what defines Max is that he won’t take this decision lightly. He knows exactly who he owes his career to – besides himself and his father, of course – and that’s ultimately Red Bull, the team that brought him to where he is today," he concluded.
source - gpfans