Max Verstappen 'is open to HUGE Mercedes move', as 'talks intensify' between Red Bull superstar and rivals - and key clause in his contract could avoid £100m payout

Max Verstappen could be on the cusp of a seismic move to Mercedes from next season. 

The Dutchman, who has won four world championships with Red Bull, is reportedly open to leaving the team. 

According to Sky Italy, there have been intensifying talks between Verstappen and Mercedes, although no official approach has been made yet and the 27-year-old has not told Red Bull he wants to leave. 

There is a clause in Verstappen's contract that would allow him to exit his contract early. It dictates that he could leave if he is not in the top four of the standings by the start of the summer break on August 3. 

At the moment, Verstappen sits in third place nine points ahead of George Russell and 36 points in front of Charles Leclerc.

There are three races to go before the summer break after the Hungarian GP and it would take £100million to buy Verstappen out of his contract, according to Sky Sports news, if that clause could not be triggered. 

Verstappen signed a Red Bull contract until 2028 in 2022 and there is also uncertainty about whether Mercedes feel they need to sign him - given they feel they could have the best car for next season. 

Russell and Kimi Antonelli are out of contract with the Silver Arrows next season and Sky Italy say Red Bull or Aston Martin would be the most likely destination for the Brit if he is to leave. 

When asked about the drivers for next year, team principal Toto Wolff recently said: 'You need to be respectable towards the stakeholders in all of that process - the organisation, the drivers, everybody.

'You need to understand the way forward. I don't want to be sadistic in letting a driver wait or not taking any decisions when it should be taken.

'I feel we are in a good space, we're [in] June, there are lots of discussions around.

'I've been open with it, transparent. And at a certain stage, in the next couple of months, until the summer break, everything is going to be done.'

His counterpart, Christian Horner, told Sky Sports: 'I think Max gets quite annoyed by it. We are very clear with the contract that we have with Max until 2028.

'So, anything is entirely speculative that is being said, but we tend not to pay too much attention to it.'