Hamilton’s departure opens a gap at Mercedes and Verstappen appears on the radar
Toto Wolff has opened the door to the possibility of Max Verstappen joining Mercedes, a move that could shake up the Formula 1 world. While Lewis Hamilton leaves for Ferrari, leaving a spot vacant at the Brackley team, Mercedes is looking for a partner for George Russell.
When specifically asked about the chances of Verstappen moving to Mercedes, Wolff emphasized that it was up to Mercedes to prove that they had the best car to attract drivers. “We will always try to have the best possible combination in our car and look for these conversations,” said Wolff.
“The ball is in our court,” says Wolff
The key for Mercedes now is to prove they can build the fastest car not only in the short and medium term, but also in the long term. “The drivers always want to be in the fastest car. It’s up to us to prove that we can build the fastest car. This then creates opportunities. The ball is in our court,” said Wolff.
Verstappen, who is currently under contract with Red Bull until 2028, has a contract that is expected to include an exit clause in the event of a decline in the team’s performance. However, Verstappen’s move to Mercedes seems highly unlikely given his current strong relationship with Red Bull and his previous rivalry with Mercedes and Hamilton, which peaked at the end of the 2021 season.
Helmut Marko rules out a union between Verstappen and Mercedes
Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko has poured cold water on suggestions of an unlikely link between Verstappen and Mercedes. “Toto will try, but he won’t succeed,” Marko told Sport.de. “Max has a good memory and hasn’t forgotten Mercedes’ allegations. The crash at Silverstone 2021 and the season finale in Abu Dhabi are examples of this.”
Speculation continues about Max Verstappen’s future and the Mercedes team’s strategy to ensure the best possible line-up. as the team prepares to prove themselves on the track and attract the best talent in the automotive world.