Mercedes' pursuit of Max Verstappen has triggered division amongst Formula 1 fans, with followers of the sport being unsure if the Dutchman should switch.
Rumours linking Verstappen to a bombshell move to the Silver Arrows have intensified in recent weeks, following George Russell revealing in Austria that talks were taking place.
It was later confirmed by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Raymond Vermeulen, the manager of Verstappen, that conversations had happened.
In addition, former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and its motorsport advisor Helmut Marko refused to deny on multiple occasions that its star driver could leave.
But should Mercedes sign Verstappen for the start of the new power unit regulations next season? That was a question put to fans in a RacingNews365 poll.
Remarkably, there was no clear winner; however, 42.9% of voters believe Mercedes should replace Russell with Verstappen next season.
This was the most-voted option but only by 6.4%, with 36.5% backing Wolff to keep its current driver pairing of Russell and teenager Kimi Antonelli.
Should Mercedes sign Verstappen, a majority do expect Russell to be dropped, as only 12.2% voted for the Red Bull driver to replace Antonelli.
Check out the full results below!
Should Mercedes sign Verstappen for 2026?
| Option | % of vote |
|---|---|
| Yes - Verstappen should replace Russell | 42.9 |
| Yes - Verstappen should replace Antonelli | 12.2 |
| No - Mercedes should keep its current pairing | 36.5 |
| No - But Mercedes should still replace either driver | 3.5 |
| Not sure | 4.9 |
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes and Nick Golding, as they are joined by special guest senior Audi F1 consultant, Allan McNish! The trio discuss Audi's preparations for 2026 and take a general look back on the first half of the current season.
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