The news of Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2025 left many wondering about Max Verstappen’s future in Formula 1. While it seemed like Verstappen would see out his contract with Red Bull, recent controversies surrounding Christian Horner and Helmut Marko have raised questions about his loyalty to the team. Verstappen’s father, Jos, even went as far as to claim that Red Bull would be “torn apart” if Horner remained in place. Additionally, it has been revealed that Verstappen had a ‘Marko clause’ inserted into his contract, allowing him to leave early if the 80-year-old advisor were to depart. This has fueled speculations that Verstappen could potentially replace Hamilton at Mercedes in the future.
Toto Wolff, the Mercedes motorsport boss, has expressed his admiration for Verstappen, calling him “extraordinary” and suggesting that a relationship with the young driver “needs to happen at a certain stage.” Wolff also mentioned that Mercedes has a vacant slot in their team, which could potentially be filled by Verstappen if he decides to make a move. However, Wolff made it clear that the decision ultimately depends on what Verstappen chooses to do in the upcoming months. It is evident that Mercedes sees Verstappen as a valuable asset and someone who could potentially lead their team in the future.
Interestingly, Mercedes had the opportunity to sign Verstappen back in 2014 when he was racing in European Formula 3. Wolff acknowledged that he was impressed by Verstappen’s talent and even offered him a fully funded seat in F2 with the guarantee of a Formula 1 seat the following year. However, Verstappen ultimately decided to join Red Bull’s junior team, Toro Rosso, due to a more lucrative offer from the Red Bull stable. This decision eventually led to him replacing Daniil Kvyat at Red Bull mid-season in 2016. Wolff admitted that Mercedes could not compete with the financial backing that Red Bull provided, leading to them missing out on signing Verstappen earlier in his career.
Despite missing out on Verstappen in the past, Wolff hinted at the possibility of a reunion with the Dutch driver in the future. He mentioned that the relationship with Verstappen could come full circle at some point, indicating that Mercedes is still interested in working with him. Wolff also confirmed that Verstappen is currently their “number one pick” to replace Hamilton, although he did not completely rule out other candidates such as Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, and FIA F2 racer Andrea Kimi Antonelli. It is clear that Mercedes values Verstappen’s talent and sees him as a potential champion who could lead their team to success.
The future of Max Verstappen in Formula 1 is filled with uncertainties and possibilities. With speculations of a potential move to Mercedes and his impressive track record in the sport, Verstappen’s career trajectory will be one to watch in the coming years. Whether he chooses to stay loyal to Red Bull or make a switch to Mercedes, one thing is certain – Verstappen’s talent and determination will continue to make him a standout driver in the world of Formula 1.
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