Max Verstappen has been touted as a surprise option to replace Lewis Hamilton as a Mercedes driver.
Toto Wolff has admitted that it is unlikely Max Verstappen will opt to swap Red Bull for Mercedes as long as the reigning champions offer him the fastest package.
Talking to Sky Sports Italy about Mercedes’ chances of luring Verstappen away from Red Bull, Wolff explained: “The market is very interesting.
For a driver, the most important thing is to be with whoever is fastest, and there is no reason now for Max to leave Red Bull anytime soon. But we’ll see what happens.”
A few months ago, Verstappen’s position at Red Bull looked unshakable. The 26-year-old holds a contract that runs until the end of the 2028 season, and in the RB20, the Milton Keynes-based outfit have produced what looks to be another title-winning car.
The controversy surrounding Christian Horner’s role has created tension in the Red Bull team. As Adrian Newey and Helmut Marko’s futures are uncertain, there is a possibility that the top driver may also leave the team. There was talk of a possible transfer to Mercedes after Jos Verstappen, the father of the three-time world champion, was seen conversing with Wolff in the Bahrain GP paddock.
The 52-year-old increased the pressure on Horner after the race weekend by saying that there is tension in the team as long as Horner is in charge. The team is at risk of falling apart if things continue as they are.
The situation is unsustainable and will eventually reach a breaking point. He accused Horner of playing the victim when he is actually the one responsible for the issues.
Mercedes is looking for a new driver to replace Lewis Hamilton as the seven-time world champion has announced his decision to leave for Ferrari at the conclusion of the 2024 season. Teenage prodigy Kimi Antonelli is not yet ready for F1, and neither Mick Schumacher nor Frederik Vesti are ready to replace him. Therefore, Wolff needs to find a quick and innovative replacement, and Verstappen could be the perfect fit.
However, in order to convince Verstappen to join Mercedes, they would need to significantly close the gap with Red Bull to show that they can provide him with a competitive car for World Championships.
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