Red Bull is going through turbulent times. After the unexpected departure of Christian Horner, the team from Milton Keynes is now under the leadership of Laurent Mekies, who stepped in during a full-blown crisis. But now, all eyes are on the future of their biggest asset: Max Verstappen.

Despite being under contract until 2028, Verstappen is enduring a tough 2025 campaign. After the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, he sits 69 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, with McLaren’s MCL39 looking untouchable. His hopes for a fifth straight title are fading fast.

Mercedes in the picture?

Rumors about Verstappen leaving Red Bull have intensified—especially links to Mercedes. Team boss Toto Wolff is reportedly working behind the scenes to land the four-time world champion, and now even Verstappen’s inner circle is fueling the speculation.

The biggest clue came from Nelson Piquet Jr., brother of Kelly Piquet (Max’s current partner) and, effectively, Max’s brother-in-law. On the Pelas Pista podcast, Piquet Jr. dropped a bombshell:

“Who knows what will happen next year… when Max is racing there [at Mercedes],” he said.

He didn’t stop there. Piquet Jr. also revealed that Verstappen will make his decision in August, and added that if he does join Mercedes, his teammate will be Kimi Antonelli, the highly rated young Italian.

A decision that could shake F1

There’s no official word yet from Red Bull or Mercedes—but coming from someone so close to Verstappen, the message carries weight. If the move goes through, it could be one of the most dramatic driver switches in recent F1 history.

With the summer break approaching, August could bring more than just rest—it might usher in a new chapter in Verstappen’s career… and the end of his Red Bull era.