“Red Bull’s Worst Nightmare?” — Mercedes Plot €160M Max Verstappen Coup as CEO Overrules Team Politics
Inside the Boardroom Coup That Could Reshape Formula 1
In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the Formula 1 paddock, multiple sources close to both manufacturers have confirmed that Mercedes-AMG Petronas is actively preparing a bold, almost unthinkable move: a €160 million offer to sign Max Verstappen, the very man who has defined Red Bull Racing’s era of dominance. What makes this move all the more explosive is not just the amount on the table, but the way it is being pushed through—not by Toto Wolff or Mercedes’ racing division, but by upper corporate leadership, namely Ola Källenius, the CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group AG himself.
This is not just a driver negotiation. This is a power play. A strategic raid. A declaration of war at the highest level of motorsport, initiated not from the garage or pit wall, but from the polished boardrooms of Stuttgart. And if it succeeds, it may be Red Bull’s worst nightmare come to life.
The Verstappen Equation—And Why Mercedes Is Breaking Protocol to Get Him
It is no secret that Max Verstappen is the most valuable driver in modern Formula 1. At only twenty-seven years old, he has already racked up multiple world titles, dominated entire seasons, and redefined what ruthless consistency looks like. His raw speed is undeniable. His on-track psychology is unmatched. His fanbase is global and growing. But what has changed in recent months is Verstappen’s perceived loyalty—or rather, the cracks that are beginning to show in his relationship with Red Bull Racing.
The departure of longtime advisor Helmut Marko, the suspension of team principal Christian Horner earlier in the year, and the persistent internal tension between Red Bull’s Austrian leadership and its Thai majority ownership have created uncertainty. Verstappen’s silence through multiple controversies has been read by insiders not as indifference but as quiet calculation. He has remained dominant on the track, yes. But those who study Verstappen closely know that when he starts giving short answers and avoiding eye contact in team debriefs, something is shifting.
Enter Mercedes. Following two difficult seasons post-Hamilton prime, and after failing to capitalize on the new regulations as expected, the team is under pressure not just to return to form but to reinvent itself entirely. George Russell, while fast and loyal, is still developing. The team’s experiments with rookie contracts have brought promise but not points. And internally, there has been frustration at how long the W14 and W15 designs remained conceptually flawed. According to a high-level source within Mercedes Group, the board is done waiting.
They want wins. And they want the driver who makes winning inevitable.
The CEO Steps In—Bypassing Politics, Changing the Game
In a move that has caught the paddock off guard, Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius has reportedly authorized direct negotiations with Max Verstappen’s management, allocating up to €160 million over a three-year term—a figure that would not only surpass Lewis Hamilton’s peak salary but rival the highest endorsement-backed packages in all of global sport.
More shocking still is the fact that Källenius is said to be bypassing certain protocols within the Mercedes-AMG F1 structure. While Toto Wolff is still the face of team operations, the CEO has made it clear to senior partners that this is not a sporting acquisition—it’s a strategic brand move. Verstappen, in his view, is no longer just a driver. He is a market force. And Mercedes cannot afford to let him remain aligned with Red Bull’s identity for another decade.
The goal is not just to win championships. It’s to hijack the narrative of Formula 1 itself.
By signing Verstappen, Mercedes would not only regain dominance on track but also reclaim its status as the team of inevitability. Verstappen in silver would be more than a livery change. It would be a symbolic decapitation of Red Bull’s decade of success.
Red Bull Reacts—And the Panic Is Real
Within Red Bull, the idea of Verstappen leaving has always been treated as taboo. Unthinkable. He is more than their driver—he is their brand. But recent instability has changed the mood. While Christian Horner continues to project confidence in public, insiders describe internal meetings as “tense,” “divided,” and, in some cases, “defensive.”
Some within the organization believe Verstappen is untouchable, that no offer—no matter how outrageous—can sever the bond he has with the car that made him champion. Others are not so sure. They point to Verstappen’s growing desire for control, his increasing frustration with regulatory chaos, and his subtle alignment with drivers who have criticized the FIA’s recent decisions.
And while the official line from Red Bull is that Verstappen is under contract through 2028, the reality is more fragile. Exit clauses. Performance-based outs. Sponsor-triggered negotiations. The contracts may look ironclad, but there are pathways—and Mercedes knows exactly where to look.
What This Means for Hamilton, Russell, and the Sport at Large
If Mercedes succeeds, the ramifications will ripple beyond the two teams involved. Questions will immediately arise about the future of George Russell, who has been promised a long-term seat and who still carries the hopes of British fans. If Verstappen arrives, Russell would likely be repositioned or pushed aside. The once-untouchable notion of “building around George” could dissolve overnight.
As for Lewis Hamilton, now with Ferrari, his legacy would enter a new phase. It would no longer be about fighting Verstappen directly but watching his old team rebuild in the image of the man who once dethroned him. Fans, commentators, and historians would read every lap as a statement of succession—or resistance.
The sport itself would feel the tremor. Rival teams would accuse Mercedes of turning Formula 1 into a cold arms race. Liberty Media, which has invested so heavily in narrative parity and drama, would be forced to reframe the dominance of a new super-team. And the FIA? They would be staring at a grid where one man—now backed by two of the sport’s most powerful empires in succession—has effectively bent the championship arc around his will.
And that is why this story matters. Because it’s no longer about contracts or money. It’s about who gets to write the future of Formula 1.
Is Red Bull’s Worst Nightmare Coming True?
No deal has been signed—yet. But this is not smoke without fire. From corporate leaks to private dinners in Monaco, from sudden PR reshuffles at Mercedes to Verstappen’s carefully timed silences, all signs point to a storm building behind the scenes.
The next time Max Verstappen steps into a Red Bull garage, it will be under different eyes. Every radio call, every handshake, and every miscommunication will be examined under a new light. Because once trust breaks—once loyalty becomes a negotiation—the only thing left is leverage.
And right now, Mercedes has it. All of it.
