Huge update dropped on Max Verstappen's future that has stunned the entire F1 paddock ahead of Austrian GP

Max Verstappen has held talks with Mercedes over potentially driving for them in 2026, team principal Toto Wolff has revealed.

The reigning four-time Drivers' Champion was linked with replacing Lewis Hamilton at the Silver Arrows for 2025, but the seat ultimately went to Kimi Antonelli.

Wolff revealed last August that he met with Verstappen's father Jos and manager Raymond Vermeulen, to discuss the possibility of a deal but both parties ultimately concluded that it would not be in their best interests.

The Dutchman is under contract at Red Bull until 2028 but there have been further question marks over his future in recent months.

Red Bull have not developed a consistent winning car, and despite his best efforts, Verstappen is currently 43 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, who is driving a generally superior McLaren.

Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, lead Mercedes driver George Russell - who is out of contract at the end of the season - claimed that his team had been speaking to Verstappen over the possibility of a drive for 2026.

And speaking to the media after second practice on Friday, Wolff stunned the paddock by confirming that he had, in fact, held talks with the four-time champion.

He told Sky Sports: "As a team principal responsible for the best car brand in the world, it's clear that you're exploring what a four-time world champion is going to do in the future. And that could be long into the future. But it has no effect on us putting a signature on George's contract."

When asked if those talks were 'tentative' and potentially focused on beyond next season, Wolff replied: "Yeah, I think it was a long-term perspective and to understand what framework you are operating under. Nothing more, nothing less."

The mere confirmation of talks with Verstappen's camp for 2026 is the first confirmation from a Mercedes official.

The Silver Arrows have had a strong start to the 2025 season with current drivers Russell and Antonelli, with Russell winning the Canadian Grand Prix earlier this month.

Both drivers are out of contract at the end of the year, though Russell has been in talks with Mercedes over recent months.

Antonelli's contract situation is less clear, with the 18-year-old Italian rookie initially signing for the 2025 season last summer.

Wolff stated in January that Antonelli's deal is 'very complicated' but refused to elaborate further on any potential clauses.

One theory that has been reported is that Mercedes may need to be in a certain Constructors' Championship position for any extension to be automatically triggered, though there has been no official comment on the matter barring Wolff's remarks.

In an interview with Bloomberg last month, the Austrian team principal said of Antonelli: "Antonelli will probably need a three-year programme. That's how long a young driver needs to challenge a more experienced and faster team-mate. But we would never have entrusted the seat to a driver who we don't consider a potential world champion."

A rare exception to that particular rule is former Mercedes driver Hamilton, who regularly outpaced two-time world champion Fernando Alonso in his rookie campaign with McLaren in 2007 when both drivers were new to the team.

But Wolff also noted the example of current championship leader Piastri, who took time to get up to speed in F1 after signing for McLaren for 2023 onwards.

"It took him a year and a half to get to the level of Lando Norris," he said. "And in 2025, for the first time, he is ahead."