Max Verstappen won’t leave Red Bul♈l for Merce🔴des next year but 2026 represents a fresh opportunity, it has been predicted.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has placed Versta💦ppen at the top of his wish-list to replace Lewis Hamilton, who will go to Ferrari next year.

The furore at 🌄Red Bull behind-the-scenes - which now lꦕooks set to include Adrian Newey’s exit - has given Mercedes hope of poaching Verstappen.

“I wouldn’t leave a car that’s winning,” F1 tech expert Alb🌸ert Fabrega told the F1 Nation podcast when🐟 asked about Verstappen.

“It’s a chess game that is playing on the table, with a lot 🌊of ✅factors and a lot of drivers involved.

“But if I was Max Verstappen? I woulꦬdn’t leave the seat of a car that, I guess, in 2025 is going to be the winning car.

“If you asked me the same question about 2026?

“Then I’m not sure. I will not put any money…

“But for me… 2025, Max will stay.

“He kn𒉰ows how difficult 🦄it is to win a championship. He’s in a winning team with a winning car and with winning momentum.

“Why would you change that?

“Moving to a🤡 team that, today, is fighting for fiꦆfth or sixth position?”

Tom Clarkson, 🎐the FIA press conference host, replied: “I think hℱe knows that.

“There’s nothing in his body language, or a𝓰🅺nything that comes out of his mouth, that makes me think he’s about to leave Red Bull.

“An꧋d even he was saying ‘I am happier in thisಌ car than I was last year’.”

But in 2026 the new F1 regulations will c🅘ome into e♔ffect.

And, the future of Newey could hav🐬e a serious impact.

Chief technical officer Newey is expected to leave Red Bulꦇl and could end up at a rival team, with Mercedes among those who would surely be k▨een.

🀅Newey’s brains are behind the cars that Verstappen has driven to his three championships so 🉐far, and the RB20 which is set to give him a fourth.

Wolff, speaking before the news of New💎ey’s exit, spoke about “other factors” that could determine Verstappen’s future beyond the brilliance of his 2024 car.