Verstappen a powerhouse at Mercedes too? Button signals key issue in bombshell move

19:05, 14 Jul

Updated: 07:45, 15 Jul

byLuke-John Buckle

Jenson Button has questioned whether a move away from Red Bull would be beneficial for Max Verstappen.

The Dutchman has spent his entire career within the Red Bull fold since making his debut with Toro Rosso in 2015.

He quickly made an impact and won his first Grand Prix for Red Bull Racing in Spain a year later. This was followed up by relentless domination at the Austrian team, winning the last four world championships.

Verstappen has become synonymous with the Red Bull team, but this season has been a frustrating campaign.

He has only won two races in Japan and at Imola, while championship leaders McLaren are 288 points ahead of fourth-placed Red Bull in the standings.

Amid this frustration, rumours around a move to Mercedes have developed over the course of the season.

The 2009 Formula 1 world champion Button has questioned whether a move to the German team would suit Verstappen.

He told The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X: "It's a tricky one for Max, because he's in a position where he's doing so well with Red Bull – they've given him so much over the years. They've designed this car around him, and he's extremely good at it. Nobody can match him in that car.

“They're so far off him. I mean, him qualifying third or fourth, and them qualifying 18th. If he goes to Mercedes, it's a different thing altogether. You know, that car is not going to be designed around him. So, is it going to work for him? I don't know."

Replacing Russell with Verstappen would be "strange"

Mercedes have the talented lineup of George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli who is navigating through his rookie season.

Neither driver is signed up for 2026, and Button feels it would be risky to partner Verstappen with Antonelli.

He added: “The best in the world should be able to make that work for him [a move to Mercedes]. It's a tough one on George because George is at the top of his game. I think he's been so competitive. When you see what he did against Lewis [Hamilton] in the last few years, he is World Championship material.

“So, to replace Max with him, it just seems like a strange move. I know they've got the young Kimi Antonelli, who's 18, who could be a future star. But we still don't know that."