Second placed Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and Third placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talk on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 09, 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //
Formula 1 Rumors

Formula 1 Rumor: Verstappen make a point to congratulate his future Mercedes teammate

Posted by AR1 staff

Amid persistent rumors linking Max Verstappen to a potential Mercedes Formula 1 seat in 2027 (stemming from performance clauses in his Red Bull contract and Toto Wolff’s ongoing interest), Verstappen made a point to publicly praise Kimi Antonelli’s performance following the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix.

Related Article: Formula 1 News: Toto Wolff’s ‘wet dream’ is signing Verstappen

In the official FIA post-race press conference, Verstappen highlighted Antonelli’s talent directly, saying: “Keep believing in yourself… You have to make mistakes also to become a better driver,” after noting the Italian’s “very fast” pace and stressful defense in the final laps.

Red Bull’s team statement echoed this, calling Antonelli’s second-place hold “brave” and extending congratulations on his behalf. Off-track, Antonelli reciprocated by rushing to hug Verstappen in parc fermé, underscoring the mutual respect between the pair—who could indeed become teammates if the rumors materialize.

Second placed Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and Third placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 09, 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //

Verstappen’s recovery (overcoming a Q1 exit, setup tweaks, and an early puncture for P3) was the race’s standout story, but his nod to Antonelli added a layer of intrigue given the speculation. With 83 points left in the season, Verstappen (341 points) trails leader Lando Norris (390) by 49, but his Interlagos grit keeps the title mathematically alive—while fueling “what if” chatter about Silver Arrows synergies.

Max Verstappen: “From pitlane to podium, this weekend has completely turned around for me, something that I didn’t think was possible. The start of the race was very hectic and I picked up a puncture early on from a load of debris on the track which meant that I pretty much had to start the race again. The Team used the right strategy from start to finish which allowed me to get through all of the traffic ahead of me very efficiently. I definitely had to send it a few times to get past the other cars but I love doing that and ended up having a really fun race, which was totally unexpected. Overall it showed that we had really good pace today and that the grip was much better than the last couple of days. The atmosphere at Interlagos was amazing and it really spurred me on. I am so proud of the Team and would like to thank them for all of the hard work that they put into making the changes post Quali last night. We kept pushing and took multiple risks this weekend because we never want to settle for second and we didn’t give up. To start in the pitlane and finish P3 on the podium only 10 seconds off P1 was incredible. Now all we can do is keep fighting hard over the final few races of the season and do the best that we possibly can whilst trying to find as much performance as we can extract from the car. A huge congratulations to Kimi as well, he drove amazingly well which will have given his confidence a huge boost which is great for any rookie!”

Second placed Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and Third placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing congratulate each other in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 09, 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Zak Mauger/LAT Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //

Rumors of George Russell to Ferrari in 2027

Fresh rumors exploded just last week (early November 2025) linking Russell to a potential Ferrari seat in 2027, explicitly as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton—amid whispers that the seven-time champion’s multi-year deal with the Scuderia might not extend beyond 2026 due to performance clauses or strategic shifts. Italian outlet Corriere della Sera led the charge, reporting Ferrari’s brass views Russell as an ideal successor: quick, technically astute, commercially appealing (with strong media presence), and a “new generation” fit alongside Charles Leclerc. ESPN corroborated this, suggesting Ferrari has internally decided against renewing Hamilton post-2026, citing his adaptation struggles this season (no podiums in the scarlet car yet).

Hamilton confirmed his contract is “multi-year” with no exit provisions before 2027, and he’s “fully committed” to delivering for Ferrari. Russell, meanwhile, has stayed loyal to Mercedes in public, but his deal’s performance triggers could allow an out if Wolff eyes Verstappen again—fueling the speculation. Fan reactions are split: some hail a Leclerc-Russell duo as a “dream team” for youth and speed, while others bet on promoting junior Oliver Bearman instead, dismissing Russell’s move as premature hype.