Reports indicate that Max Verstappen's father, Jos Verstappen, has made a 'handshake deal' with Mercedes' Toto Wolff, potentially setting the stage for Max to join Mercedes in 2026 despite his Red Bull contract extending until 2028. This speculation is fueled by Red Bull's recent performance struggles and internal turmoil, including key personnel changes such as Adrian Newey's move to Aston Martin and Gianpiero Lambiase's promotion within Red Bull. Red Bull's efforts to regain competitiveness include drastic measures like scrapping fan-designed liveries to reduce car weight. Meanwhile, Verstappen's lead in the Drivers' Championship is under threat from Lando Norris, with McLaren overtaking Red Bull in the Constructors' Championship. As Red Bull prepares for the Singapore Grand Prix, the team faces mounting pressure to improve performance and secure its standings.