Max Verstappen seems more determined than ever to leave Red Bull. The 61-point deficit to Formula 1 World Championship leader Oscar Piastri and his recent retirement in Austria have led the four-time champion to consider his exit at the end of the season.
In this context, Mercedes' known interest in acquiring the services of Mad Max has precipitated a series of talks to finalise the signing before the August break, when most deals are announced.
One of those who has spoken out on the subject is former F1 driver Martin Brundle on Sky Sports: "I think George Russell is nervous, yeah, a bit nervous.... So, there's no smoke without fire. And 2026 is known to be a massive change, the biggest in the history of Formula 1, both for the chassis and the engine.
"I guess Mercedes would also be there (as favourite). Can Max terminate his contract? Something is going on," he said.
If Verstappen finally decides to move to Mercedes, there could be two seats available at Red Bull, as Tsunoda's performance has not been outstanding. This could lead to a driver shuffle, with several big names in the mix.