If Max Verstappen goes to Mercedes, Red Bull could sign Sainz

Former Formula 1 operator Juan Pablo Montoya made an absorbing prediction astir imaginable changes successful the summertime marketplace successful F1. In his opinion, if 26-year-old Max Verstappen moves to Mercedes adjacent year, determination would beryllium a existent concatenation absorption among the apical teams.

Formula 1 is awaiting with large involvement the existent champion's determination connected his aboriginal for the 2026 season, arsenic it volition surely impact the docket of respective cars, particularly Mercedes. George Russell and young endowment Kimi Antonelli look uncertain futures arsenic their contracts soon expire. However, Russell is enjoying his champion play truthful far, portion 20-year-old Antonelli has go the biggest find of the year.

The brag of Mercedes, Toto Wolff, has agelong had the tendency to bring successful Verstappen, and helium besides admitted that helium regrets not hiring him earlier, earlier Max signed for Red Bull. Although determination has been speculation that Max could regenerate Russell and that Antonelli would stay arsenic his teammate, Montoya sees the concern differently.

Possible chess crippled betwixt teams

"If Max goes to Mercedes and they don't springiness up connected Russell, Red Bull volition astir apt bring successful Carlos Sainz," Montoya told AS Colombia. "And Kimi volition extremity up astatine Williams, which volition springiness him clip to develop, akin to what was done with Russell."

Montoya claims that Red Bull had the enactment to motion Sainz earlier, but that Verstappen did not privation the Spaniard arsenic a team-mate, further complicating the situation. "However, I bash not judge that Max has the close to take a workfellow astatine Mercedes, which helium present has astatine Red Bull," helium adds.

Recently, determination were rumors astir Sainz's clause that would let him to permission Williams if a apical squad calls him, but Williams denied those stories.

However, now, with the imaginable departure of Max to the German team, the concern is changing. Red Bull has nary 1 to regenerate the experienced aggregate champion, and Sainz is considered the astir realistic enactment for that position.